Executive Orders | NYS Department of Health – Guidance | NYS Department of Financial Services – Guidance | NYS Department of Labor – Guidance | New York City
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Executive Orders
Please note that the information listed for each Executive Order is a brief highlight each order. The full Executive Order is available by clicking on the associated link.
202 – March 7, 2020: Declaring a Disaster Emergency in the State of New York
- Any large gathering or event in excess of five hundred people shall be cancelled or postponed for a minimum of thirty days.
- Any place of business or public accommodation, and any gathering or event with fewer than five hundred people, shall operate at no greater than fifty percent occupancy, and no greater than fifty percent of seating capacity, for thirty days effective on Friday, March 13, 2020, except that any theater seating five hundred or more attendees for a live performance located in a city of one million or more shall not hold any further performances after 5pm on March 12, 2020.
- Suspension of seven-day waiting periods for unemployment insurance claimants related to COVID-19
- Reduction in required number of signatures on petitions to 1.5% of the enrolled voters required, or 30% of the stated threshold, whichever is less
- Any school district which is closing shall be required to first consult with local department of health and also exhaust any available time including snow days and vacation days. In addition, the State Education Department shall promulgate guidance for districts to ensure access to meals for students in need, critical educational supports for students and distance learning options
- Any large gathering or event (concert, conference, worship service, performance before a large audience, etc.) shall be cancelled or postponed if more than 50 persons are expected in attendance, at any location in New York State until further notice.
- Any restaurant or bar in the State of New York shall cease serving patrons food or beverage on-premises effective at 8 pm on March 16, 2020, and until further notice shall only serve food or beverage for off-premises consumption
- Any gym, fitness centers or classes, movie theater, and facilities authorized to conduct video lottery gaming or casino gaming shall cease operation effective at 8 pm on March 16, 2020, and until further notice.
- Restrictions on non-essential personnel; schools closed until at least April 1, 2020; March 17 village elections postponed and any elected official holding such position shall remain in office until such time as a new election is held.
- Any village election set to be held March 18, 2020 shall be postponed and any elected official holding such position shall remain in office until such time as a new election is held.
- Effective at 8 p.m. March 19, 2020, all indoor common portions of retail shopping malls in excess of 100,000 square feet of retail space available for lease shall close and cease access to the public. Any stores located within shopping malls, which have their own external entrances open to the public, separate from the general mall entrance, may remain open, subject to the requirements of Executive Order 202.3 that any restaurant shall limit itself to take out or delivery food services, and that any interior entrances to common areas of the mall remain closed and locked.
- All places of public amusement, whether indoors or outdoors, including but not limited to, locations with amusement rides, carnivals, amusement parks, water parks, aquariums, zoos, arcades, fairs, children’s play centers, funplexes, theme parks, bowling alleys, family and children’s attractions shall be closed to the public at 8 p.m. on March 19. This directive shall not apply to public parks and open recreation areas.
202.6 – March 18, 2020 – “Essential Business” definition:
Empire State Development – Essential Business Guidance – Workforce Reduction – UPDATED: APRIL 9, 2020 at 8:00 AM
- Effective on March 20 at 8 p.m.: All businesses and not-for-profit entities in the State shall utilize, to the maximum extent possible, any telecommuting or work from home procedures that they can safely utilize.
- Each employer shall reduce the in-person workforce at any work locations by 50% no later than March 20 at 8 p.m. Any essential business or entity providing essential services or functions shall not be subject to the in-person restrictions.
- Empire State Development Corporation shall issue guidance as to which businesses are determined to be essential.
- Effective March 21, 2020 at 8 p.m. and until further notice all businesses and not-for-profit entities shall reduce the in-person workforce at any work locations by 75%. Any essential business or entity providing essential services or functions shall not be subject to the in-person restrictions.
- Effective March 21, 2020 at 8 p.m. and until further notice, all barbershops, hair salons, tattoo or piercing parlors and related personal care services will be closed to members of the public. This shall also include nail technicians, cosmetologists and estheticians, and the provision of electrolysis, laser hair removal services, as these services cannot be provided while maintaining social distance.
- Effective March 22, 2020 at 8 p.m. and until further notice all businesses and not-for-profit entities shall reduce the in-person workforce at any work locations by 100%. Any essential business or entity providing essential services or functions shall not be subject to the in-person restrictions.
- The Vehicle and Traffic Law is temporarily amended to the extent that it provides an expiration for temporary registration documents issued by auto dealers to extend the validity of such during the duration of this executive order.
- The Business Corporation Law is temporarily amended to the extent they require meetings of shareholders to be noticed and held at a physical location
- There shall be no enforcement of either an eviction of any tenant residential or commercial, or a foreclosure of any residential or commercial property for a period of ninety days.
- The authority of the Commissioner of Taxation and Finance to abate late filing and payment penalties is hereby expanded to also authorize abatement of interest, for a period of 60 days for taxpayers who are required to file returns and remit sales and use taxes by March 20, 2020, for the sales tax quarterly period that ended February 29, 2020.
- The Banking Law is modified to provide that it shall be deemed an unsafe and unsound business practice if, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, any bank which is subject to the jurisdiction of the Department of Financial Services (DFS) shall not grant a forbearance to any person or business who has a financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic for a period of ninety days.
- The Superintendent of DFS shall promulgate emergency regulations for the period of this emergency that fees for the use of automated teller machines (ATMs), overdraft fees and credit card late fees, may be restricted or modified in accordance with the Superintendent’s regulation of licensed or regulated entities taking into account the financial impact on the New York consumer
- Non-essential gatherings of individuals of any size for any reason (e.g. parties, celebrations or other social events) are canceled or postponed at this time.
- The Public Health Law, until April 22, 2020 is amended to the extent necessary to permit and require general hospitals to take all measures necessary to increase the number of beds available to patients, in accordance with the directives set forth in this Executive Order.
- The Education Law, is temporarily amended to the extent necessary to provide that all physicians, physician assistants, specialist assistants, nurse practitioners, licensed registered professional nurses and licensed practical nurses shall be immune from civil liability for any injury or death alleged to have been sustained directly as a result of an act or omission.
- All schools in New York State will remain closed for an additional two weeks, through April 15. Schools are required to continue their child care, meal, and distance learning provisions during this time.
- Amends the directive relating to pharmacists’ dispensing of hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine.
- Deems that any operation of a facility or occupancy of any such space by more than the number of persons allowable shall be deemed to be a violation of law and in violation of the Uniform Code or other local building code, as applicable.
- Reschedules the April 28, 2020 presidential primary and special elections for June 23, 2020.
- Delays New York State’s tax filing day to July 15, matching the federal filing date.
- Directs all hospitals to allow one person who does not have a fever at the time of labor/delivery to be present as a support person for a patient who is giving birth.
- Aligns the expiration date of various directives on closed or otherwise restricted public or private businesses or places of public accommodation, such that all in-person business restrictions will be effective until 11:59 p.m. on April 15, 2020, unless later extended by future Executive Orders.
- Clarifies the directive on non-essential construction.
- Modifies the directive requiring a support person for a patient giving birth to cover labor, delivery, and the immediate postpartum period.
- Reschedules various dates for elections that would have occurred in March, April or May 2020.
- Extends the “New York State on PAUSE” order (New York State on Pause – 10 Point Plan) , which includes the closure of all non-essential businesses in the State in addition to social distancing guidelines, through April 29.
- Directs all schools in New York State to remain closed through April 29.
- Doubles fines for violating social distancing directives, from $500 to $1,000.
- Directs PPE (personal protective equipment), ventilators, respirators, and other necessary equipment or supplies that is held in inventory by any entity in the State to be reported to the Department of Health, to be transferred to a facility in urgent need of that equipment.
- Allows any physician who will graduate in 2020 from an accredited academic medical program to practice at any institution under the supervision of a licensed physician.
- Allows New Yorkers to vote by absentee ballot for the June 23rd primaries.
- Contains several directives to increase the number of funeral directors who can practice in New York State.
- Public hearings scheduled or otherwise required to take place in April or May of 2020 are postponed until June 1, 2020. However, those hearings may continue if they can be held remotely.
Department of Health Guidance – Requiring Face Coverings for Public and Private Employees Interacting with the Public – UPDATED APRIL 14, 2020
- Effective Wednesday, April 15 at 8pm – For all essential businesses or entities, any employees who are present in the workplace shall be provided and shall wear face coverings when in direct contact with customers or members of the public. Businesses must provide, at their expense, such face coverings for their employees.
- Expands the pool of individuals authorized to conduct antibody testing.
- Requires all individuals over the age of two to wear a face covering when in public and unable to maintain social distancing protocols.
- Extends the “New York State on PAUSE” business restrictions and social protocols through May 15
- Directs all schools statewide to remain closed through May 15
- Nursing homes, skilled nursing facilities and adult care facilities are required to notify family members or next of kin if any resident tests positive for COVID-19, or if any resident suffers a COVID-19 related death, within 24 hours of such positive test result or death
- Directs all public and private labs in the State to coordinate with the Department of Health to ensure prioritizing of diagnostic testing.
- Provides a penalty of $2,000 per violation per day for any nursing home, skilled nursing facility or adult care facility that does not notify family members or next of kin, within 24 hours, if any resident tests positive for COVID-19 or suffers a COVID-19-related death.
- Waives the 60-day waiting period for obtaining a marriage license.
- Permits those persons who were unable to marry within the time frame issued on an original marriage license to waive the fees necessary to obtain a second marriage license.
- Authorizes any issuance of a marriage license application, marriage license, or witnessing or solemnizing of the marriage ceremony to be performed remotely by utilizing appropriate audio-video technology within certain parameters.
- Modifies Executive Order 202.20 to include any officiant, public or private, as able to perform or solemnize such marriage ceremony remotely.
- Contains several provisions related to property tax procedures.
- Guarantees 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.
- Cancels the June 23rd State Assembly, State Senate, and Queens Borough President special elections; these seats will be filled at the November general election.
- Authorizes the Commissioner of Health to suspend or revoke the operating certificate of any skilled nursing facility or adult care facility found to have violated a Department of Health regulation or directive.
- Authorizes licensed pharmacists to order and administer COVID-19 tests, subject to completion of appropriate training developed by the NYS Department of Health.
- Allows independent pharmacists to conduct COVID-19 tests.
- Cancels a special election for the office of City Council in the 37th district and directs that this seat will be filled at the November general election.
- Allows for the approval and certification by the Commissioner of Health of temporary dedicated birthing sites operated by currently-licensed birthing hospitals and currently-licensed birthing centers
- Allows any patient giving birth to have present with them: a support person, who does not have symptoms of COVID-19, for the labor, delivery and also the remaining duration of the patient’s stay
- Modifies the allowance of elective surgeries and procedures by county when the total available hospital inpatient capacity is over thirty percent and the total available hospital ICU capacity is over thirty percent and the total change from April 17, 2020 to April 27, 2020, in the number of hospitalized patients who are positive for COVID-19 is fewer than ten
- Contains multiple revisions to election dates and processes, including: rescheduling school budget and school board elections for June 9, 2020; changing certain procedures for village elections; requiring school budget hearings to be held remotely; and, rescheduling any village election postponed in March of 2020, or scheduled to be held any time prior to September 15, 2020, for September 15, 2020.
- Extends, through June 4, any previous COVID-19 directive allowing for the practice of a profession in New York State without a current New York State licensure or registration, including but not limited to those individuals who are validly licensed in another state or Canada.
- Allows an action to be commenced not later than one year and six months after the effective date of such section, is modified to allow an action commenced pursuant to such section to be commenced not later than one year and eleven months after the effective date of such section.
NYS Department of Health – Guidance
LAST UPDATED: JANUARY 19, 2021 AT 2:07 PM
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Visit ny.gov/vaccine to get the facts on the COVID-19 Vaccine in New York.
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The new COVID-19 Vaccine Tracker Dashboard will update New Yorkers on the distribution of the vaccine including the number of doses received by the state, a breakdown of first or second doses, and the number of persons vaccinated with the first and second doses in each region.
- If you have been on quarantine due to contact with someone known to have COVID-19:
- a negative test does NOT release you from quarantine.
- It is essential to wait 10 days full days to make sure that no infection appears, even if you have no symptoms, before being released from quarantine.
- Quarantine should last 10 days from the last exposure to a person with known COVID-19.
- In addition, you should continue to monitor yourself for any signs or symptoms of COVID-19 for up to 14 days after that last exposure.
- If you have any questions about your period of quarantine, please call your Local Health Department.
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The COVID-19 Emergency Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention Act places a moratorium on residential evictions until May 1, 2021 for tenants who have endured COVID-related hardship.
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Indoor and outdoor gatherings at private residences are limited to no more than 10 people.
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New travel guidelines are in effect that allow out-of-state travelers to “test out” of the mandatory 10-day quarantine.
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To report violations of health and safety restrictions and requirements for businesses, gatherings and individuals, please choose the appropriate link below:
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Health care workers can text NYFRONTLINE to 741-741 to access 24/7 emotional support services. Any New Yorker can call the COVID-19 Emotional Support Hotline at 1-844-863-9314 for mental health counseling.
NYS Department of Financial Services – Guidance
- Property/Casualty Emergency Regulation Guidance
- Small Businesses Guidance
- Student Borrowers Guidance
- Mortgage and Foreclosure Guidance
- Business Interruption Insurance Guidance
- Telehealth and Health Insurance Guidance
- Mortgage Guidance
- Banking and Credit Cards Guidance
- Supplement No. 1 to Circular letter No. 8 (2020) – Coronavirus, Utilization Review, and Emergency Admission Notification Requirements – April 22, 20202
- DFS directs health plans to provide financial and administrative relief to New York hospitals during COVID-19 pandemic – April 19, 2020
- Insurance Circular Letter No. 9 (2020): Coronavirus and Insurance Producer Licensing Requirements – March 25, 2020
- Information for Insurers and Providers on Coverage for Telehealth Services – March 21, 2020
- Insurance Circular Letter No. 8 (2020): Coronavirus, Utilization Review, and Emergency Admission Notification Requirements – March 20, 2020
- Insurance Circular Letter No. 7 (2020): Guidance to Department of Financial Services (“DFS”) Regulated Insurance Entities Regarding Support for Consumers and Businesses Impacted by Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) – March 19, 2020
- Guidance to New York State Regulated Financial Institutions Regarding Support for Consumers and Businesses Impacted by the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) – March 19, 2020
- Guidance to New York State Regulated and Exempt Mortgage Servicers Regarding Support for Borrowers Impacted by the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) – March 19, 2020
- Department of Financial Services Adopts New Emergency Regulation Requiring Insurance Companies To Waive Cost-Sharing For In-Network Telehealth Visits – March 17, 2020
- Special Enrollment Period for Uninsured New Yorkers – March 16, 2020
- Insurance Circular Letter No. 6 (2020): Coronavirus and Telehealth Services – March 15, 2020
- Order Granting Temporary Relief to COVID-19 Affected Regulated Entities and Persons March 12, 2020
- Insurance Circular Letter No. 5 (2020): Guidance to Department of Financial Services (“DFS”) Regulated Insurance Entities and Request for Assurance Relating to Operational and Financial Risk Arising from the Outbreak of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) – March 10, 2020
- Guidance to New York State Regulated Institutions and Request for Assurance of Operational Preparedness Relating to the Outbreak of the Novel Coronavirus – March 10, 2020
- Guidance to New York State Regulated Institutions and Request for Assurance Relating to Potential Financial Risk Arising from the Outbreak of the Novel Coronavirus – March 10, 2020
- Guidance to New York State Regulated Banks, Credit Unions and Licensed Lenders Regarding Support for Businesses Impacted by the Novel Coronavirus – March 10, 2020
- Guidance to DFS Regulated Institutions Engaged in Virtual Currency Business Activity and Request for Assurance Relating to Operational and Financial Risk Arising from the Outbreak of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) – March 10, 2020
- Insurance Circular Letter No. 4 (2020): Cancel For Any Reason Travel Benefits – March 6, 2020:
- Insurance Circular Letter No. 3 (2020); Preparedness for Coronavirus (COVID-19) – March 3, 2020:
- New York Health Insurers to Waive Cost Sharing Associated with Testing for Novel Coronavirus Including Emergency Room, Urgent Care and Office Visits – March 2, 2020:
NYS Department of Labor
- The federal CARES Act – The Act provides enhanced Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) for New Yorkers. March 27, 2020.
- Paid Sick Leave for COVID-19 Impacted New Yorkers
- Paid Family Leave for COVID-19
- The New York State Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act requires businesses to give early warning of closing and layoffs. Businesses must give notice to:
- All affected employees
- Any employee representative(s)
- The New York State Department of Labor (DOL)
- The Local Workforce Investment Board (LWIB)
- Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification
- New York State Department of Labor Implements a Filing System and Extends Hours to Address the Influx of Unemployment Claims and Make Process More Efficient for Claimants – March 17, 2020
New York City
- NYC Department of Health – COVID19 Information
- NYC Department of Health COVID19 fact sheet
- NYC Department of Buildings
- NYC Agency Updates on Service Suspensions and Reductions
- NYC Emergency Food Assistance – Emergency food: If you need emergency food assistance, call the Emergency Food Hotline at 866-888-8777 or 311 to find a local pantry or kitchen. There is no income limit for emergency food.
