OPERATION FORWARD COVID-19
July 8, 2020
As of yesterday, July 7, the Mid-Hudson Region is in Phase IV. If you’re an employer included in Phase IV, then you must follow these steps to be open. To find your industry status, use the reopen lookup tool HERE or see the chart above.
You must follow these steps to reopen:
1. Go to the NY Forward website HERE.
2. Click on “Phase Four Guidance.”
3. Select your industry on the left side navigation bar.
4. Click on and read “View Summary Guidelines” for your industry.
5. Click on and read “Read and Affirm the Detailed Guidelines” for your industry, and then click the link at the bottom of the page or HERE to complete the form and hit submit.
6. Click on “Print Business Safety Plan Template” for your industry, and then print and fill out the template, and keep on file at your place of business.
7. Implement the Safety Plan.
It is imperative that you go above and beyond the recommended guidance to ensure we do not spread COVID-19. You know your business better than anyone and you must identify areas that have potential risk. Should the metrics indicate spike in COVID-19 cases then the State of New York may place further restrictions on employers or once again enact a PAUSE order.
Please use common sense to keep your customers and employees safe and healthy. Your customers will appreciate the extra precautions and continue to patronize your establishment. Your employees will also respect your level of care.
Governor Cuomo has announced that malls will be permitted to reopen on Friday, July 10. In order to open, malls must be located in a region in Phase IV, have an HVAC filtration system with a MERv-11 rating or higher, and institute ventilation protocols to increase the amount of outdoor air being brought into the mall. The below image was used during today's press conference.
Although there are more industries that still remain closed, no guidance has been issued on when they can expect to reopen or when guidance will be issued. We have repeatedly called for the state to release guidance for those businesses and will continue to do so.
A Phased Reopening Plan in the Mid-Hudson Region –
Sullivan County - STEPS TO RE-OPEN
June 4, 2020
Businesses in each region will re-open in phases. Re-opening refers to non-essential businesses and business activities. Essential businesses and business activities that are open will remain open.
For Guidelines and Safety Plan Templates forward.ny.gov
June 9, 2020
The Mid-Hudson Region is on track to move into Phase Two on Tuesday, June 9. If you’re an employer that is included in Phase Two, follow these important steps to prepare now. For help determining whether or not your business is eligible to reopen, use the reopen lookup tool HERE or see the chart above.
You must follow these steps to reopen:
- Go to the NY Forward website HERE.
- Click on “Phase Two Guidance.”
- Select your industry by scrolling down on the left side navigation bar.
- Click on and read “View Summary Guidelines” for your industry.
- Click on and read “Read and Affirm the Detailed Guidelines” for your industry, and then click the link at the bottom of the page or HERE to complete the form and hit submit.
- Click on “Print Business Safety Plan Template” for your industry, and then print and fill out the template, and keep on file at your place of business.
- Implement the Safety Plan.
Congratulations, you’re ready to re-open!
It is imperative that you go above and beyond the recommended guidance to ensure we do not spread COVID-19. You know your business better than anyone and you must identify areas that have potential to spread the virus. Should the metrics indicate an increase in new cases and deaths related to COVID-19 then the State of New York may place further restrictions on employers or once again place a complete PAUSE order in place.
Use common sense to keep your customers and employees safe and healthy. It is the right thing to do, your customers will take notice of the extra precautions you have taken and continue to patronize your establishment. Your employees will also appreciate that you care. For the Playbook and suggestions for writing your re-open plan, click HERE.
Phase-1 reopening businesses are required to fill out a state provided form for affirmation of safety guidelines before reopening. The guidelines are broken out by industry and can be found HERE. On that same page, business safety plan templates are provided. These plans do not need to be submitted to the state, but must be posted on premises and available for inspection by state and local officials.
Essential businesses must also complete the affirmation and create a business safety plan, but no forms are available from the state yet. Once the forms are available, we will publish them in this email.
An FAQ page has been released by Empire State Development regarding the reopening plans. That page can be found HERE.
Business Precautions
Business Precautions: Each business and industry must have a plan to protect employees and consumers, make the physical work space safer and implement processes that lower risk of infection in the business.
- Adjust workplace hours and shift design as necessary to reduce density in the workplace
- Enact social distancing protocols
- Restrict non-essential travel for employees
- Require all employees and customers to wear masks if in frequent contact with others
- Implement strict cleaning and sanitation standards
- Enact a continuous health screening process for individuals to enter the workplace
- Continue tracing, tracking and reporting of cases
- Develop liability processes
