Certain Counties to Resume Elective Surgeries Today Governor Cuomo named the 35 counties in New York State that are currently eligible under the existing guidelines to resume elective outpatient treatments and surgeries. The full list is below: AlleganyBroomeCattaraugusChautauquaChenangoDelawareDutchessEssexFranklinFultonGeneseeHerkimerJeffersonLewisLivingstonMadisonMonroeNiagaraOneidaOnondagaOntarioOrleansOswegoPutnamSaratogaSchoharieSchuylerSt. LawrenceSteubenSullivanTompkinsUlsterWayneWyomingYates  Attractive Nuisance The Governor today indicated that the upcoming New York State Fair and the Saratoga Race Track season may not happen this summer as they typically would. The Governor stated that the only way he could foresee them being able to [...]

Reopening New York State Governor Cuomo reiterated the factors that will guide New York State’s reopening, which will occur regionally and in phases: Follow CDC guidelines: there must be a 14-day decline in infection/hospitalization ratesIndustry AssessmentsPhase 1: Construction/Manufacturing – which projects can be accomplished safely?Phase 2: Identify additional businesses for reopening (prioritizing lower risk services) and prohibit regional “attractive nuisances” – any attractions or openings that could draw a large number of visitors from outside local areas (citing an example, the [...]

Reopening New York State Today Governor Cuomo re-iterated that NYS on PAUSE will remain in effect until May 15th  and will most likely be extended in various regions around the State that are continuing to experience high infection rates. The planned stay at home order will continue while the State evaluates re-opening the economy regionally. He stated you can make the case to un-pause certain regions but the approach needs to be smart.  There are ten factors the Governor outlined that [...]

Executive Order 202.24 The Governor last night issued Executive Order 202.24, authorizing licensed pharmacists to order and administer COVID-19 tests, subject to completion of appropriate training developed by the NYS Department of Health. As discussed yesterday, the Order expands testing capacity in New York State by allowing independent pharmacies to conduct coronavirus tests. Additionally, this Order cancels a special election for the office of City Council in the 37th district and stipulates that this seat will be filled at the November [...]

Executive Order 202.23 Governor Cuomo last night issued Executive Order 202.23, guaranteeing that every New Yorker automatically receives a postage-paid application to receive an absentee ballot for the June 23rd primary elections and any previously rescheduled election.  This Order also cancelled the June 23rd State Assembly, State Senate, and Queens Borough President special elections; these seats will be filled at the November general election.  (NOTE: the June 23rd special elections are separate from the June 23rd State Assembly and Senate primaries, [...]

COVID-19 Economic Impact Analysis Governor Cuomo announced today that he expects New York State revenues in the current fiscal year to be $13.3 billion below the initial Executive Budget forecast.  Over the financial plan period of FY 2021 to FY 2024, the projected deficit is $61 billion.  The Governor stated that these shortfalls completely are due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting economic downturn. Facilitating Absentee Voting The Governor will be issuing a new Executive Order guaranteeing that every New [...]

Antibody Study         Today Governor Cuomo announced the preliminary Phase 1 results from the statewide antibody testing that has been running for the past two days. This testing was initiated to determine the prevalence of trace antibodies in individuals and to set a projected baseline of the population believed to have been infected with COVID-19 and since recovered. They have collected samples from 19 different counties and a total of 40 different grocery and big box stores across the state. Phase 1 [...]

White House Meeting Revisited Today Governor Cuomo provided details from yesterday’s meeting with President Trump. The Federal Government will work on the international supply chain to ensure New York will be able to work with its roughly 300 local labs to perform a combined 40,000 diagnostic and antibody tests per day. In addition to the testing, the State will launch a tracing program focused on downstate New York that will work in conjunction with Connecticut and New Jersey.  This program will [...]

Updates from White House Meeting This afternoon Governor Cuomo met in Washington D.C. with President Trump and members of his staff to discuss a number of COVID-related issues.  As part of their discussion the Governor stated this evening that the Federal government will work with testing manufacturers to increase production of testing materials while the State will be taking the lead with in-state laboratories to increase the antibody and diagnostic testing capacity from 20,000 tests per day to 40,000, which will [...]