Coronavirus Updates

Update Saturday 3/21/2020
What You Need to Know:
  • New York State on PAUSE: In New York we know that Policies Assure Uniform Safety for Everyone.
  • 100% of the workforce must stay home beginning Sunday, March 22 at 8PM, excluding essential services. 
  • All non-essential gatherings of individuals of any size for any reason are temporarily banned.
  • New York State has has identified two million N95 masks for purchase and will send one million to New York City and 500,000 to Long Island.
  • Department of Motor Vehicles offices are temporarily closed for in-office visits. Online transactions, including for license renewals, are still be available. License and permit expirations will be extended.
  • Governor Cuomo is visiting four sites that have been identified by the Army Corps of Engineers for temporary hospitals.
  • Enacting Matilda’s Law to protect New Yorkers age 70+ and those with compromised immune systems 
    • Remain indoors
    • Can go outside for solitary exercise
    • Pre-screen all visitors by taking their temperature
    • Wear a mask in the company of others
    • Stay at least 6 feet from others
    • Do not take public transportation unless urgent and absolutely necessary
  • All barbershops, hair salons, tattoo or piercing salons, nail salons, hair removal services and related personal care services will be closed to the public effective Saturday, March 21 at 8:00PM.
  • Casinos, gyms, theaters, retail shopping malls, amusement parks and bowling alleys are closed until further notice. Bars and restaurants are closed, but takeout can be ordered during the period of closure.
  • Testing is free for all eligible New Yorkers as ordered by a health care provider.
  • Your local health department is your community contact for COVID-19 concerns. 
Update Thursday 3/19/2020
  • Governor Cuomo signed the bill guaranteeing job protection and pay for New Yorkers who have been quarantined as a result of novel coronavirus.
  • Governor Cuomo will issue an executive order directing non-essential businesses to implement work-from-home policies effective Friday, March 20. Businesses that rely on in-office personnel must decrease their in-office workforce by 50 percent. 
  • Exemptions from the order will include shipping, media, warehousing, grocery and food production, pharmacies, healthcare providers, utilities, banks and related financial institutions.
  • Retail shopping malls, amusement parks and bowling alleys to close by 8 PM Thursday in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania.
  • The USNS Comfort, a 1,000 bed hospital ship, will be deployed to New York harbor to increase New York's hospital surge capacity.
  • Governor Cuomo signed an executive order directing all schools in New York to close by Wednesday, March 18 for two weeks ending April 1.
  • Casinos, gyms, theaters are closed until further notice.
  • Bars and restaurants are closed, but takeout can be ordered during the period of closure.
  • All local governments must reduce their workforce by at least 50%. Non-essential state workers are working from home.
  • New York State is waiving all park fees in state, local and county parks.
  • Testing is free for all eligible New Yorkers as ordered by a health care provider.
  • Your local health department is your community contact for COVID-19 concerns.  

Update Tuesday 3/17/2020

  • New Yorkers should be prepared for the possibility of a shelter-in-place order to stem the spread of coronavirus, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Tuesday;
  • The mayor put out a call for anyone with health care skills to step forward and offer their services;
  • NY state - 1,374 positive cases. (432 new) and 12 deaths - 264 of the cases are hospitalized, 19% rate;
  • NYC 644 (187 new);
  • Westchester 380 (157 new);
  • Nassau 131 (24 new);
  • Suffolk 84 (21 new);
  • Rockland 22 (9 new);
  • Dutchess 16 (6 new);
  • Orange 15 (4 new);
  • Monroe 14 (3 new);
  • Saratoga 9 (4 new);
  • Erie County 11 (4 new);
  • Ulster County: 8 (1 new);
  • Schenectady County: 5 (1 new);
  • Allegany County: 2;
  • Greene County: 2;
  • Onondaga County: 2 (1 new);
  • Putnam County: 2;
  • Tompkins County: 2 (1 new);
  • Broome County: 1;
  • Clinton County: 1 (1 new);
  • Delaware County: 1;
  • Herkimer County: 1;
  • Montgomery County: 1;
  • Ontario County: 1;
  • Rensselaer County: 1 (1 new);
  • Sullivan County: 1 (1 new);
  • Tioga County: 1;
  • Wyoming County: 1;
  • State Health Commissioner Howard Zucker said the epidemic is expected to peak in about 45 days — or on May 1st;
  • Paid Sick Leave legislation approved by Legislature/Governor for New York workers;

Update Monday 3/16/2020 - There are 950 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in New York, up from 729 on Sunday.

  • Gatherings of more than 50 people banned;
  • Many non-essential businesses closed;
  • All New York State schools closed for at least the next two weeks;
  • All New York city Schools closed for the next 5 weeks;
  • Casinos, gyms, and movie theaters must close by 8 PM Monday (March 16th);
  • Bars and restaurants limited to take out and delivery orders;
  • Groceries, gas stations, pharmacies and some other essential businesses can stay open;
  • Drive-thru Corona Virus testing venues being set up in Westchester, Rockland, Staten Island, Long Island and the city of New Rochelle;
  • Fees waived at all state parks;
  • Over 7000 people in NYS have been tested for Corona virus to date;
  • Local governments must reduce their workforce by 50%;
  • Private businesses encouraged to reduce workforce by 50%;
  • Governor issued executive order Monday calling on the National Guard to work with building unions and private developers to find existing facilities, such as dormitories and former nursing homes, that can most easily be converted to medical facilities, with the goal of creating an additional 9,000 beds;
  • Currently 158 people admitted to hospitals for treatment of Corona Virus.

* This information collected from various news and media sources.