Assemblyman Billy Jones April 12th COVID-19 Updates
The state will reopen in four phases, with at least 2 weeks between each phase.
Here is a breakdown of each phase:
Phase One:
Construction
Manufacturing
Retail – Curbside Pickup
Wholesale Trade
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting
Phase Two:
Professional Services
Retail
Administrative Support
Real Estate / Rental & Leasing
Phase Three:
Restaurants / Food Services
Phase Four:
Arts / Entertainment / Recreation
Education
Governor Andrew Cuomo announced definitions for each industry that will be permitted to open during Phase One yesterday.
We are currently waiting for details for other phases and will send you all an update when we know more.
Business Safety Precautions
The NY FORWARD website includes new guidelines and information for businesses about reopening that will be updated frequently.
Each business and industry must have a plan to protect employees and consumers, make the physical workspace safer and implement processes that lower the risk of infection in the business.
In developing these plans, businesses will need to consider three main factors:
Protections for employees and customers: including possible adjustments to workplace hours and shift design as necessary to reduce density in the workplace; enacting social distancing protocols, and restricting non-essential travel for employees.
Changes to the physical workspace: including requiring all employees and customers to wear masks if in frequent close contact with others and implementing strict cleaning and sanitation standards.
Implementing processes that meet our changing public health obligations: such as screening individuals when they enter the workplace, or reporting confirmed positives to customers. While these processes will vary from business to business, almost everyone will have to adapt, in some way or another, to our new normal.
A template for individual business Health & Safety Plans will be posted in a matter of days.
All businesses and employers will be asked to use this template to create a Health & Safety Plan for their business, following state requirements and guidelines which will also be posted soon.
Each business will acknowledge that they have familiarized themselves with the guidelines as part of their plan.
Their plan, when completed, must be retained on-site and be available for inspection and referral.
Construction sites must have such a plan for each site where work is carried out.
There will be a compliance process spelled out soon, likely including a regional hotline process for the reporting of possible violations of state guidelines.
My office will continue to send updates as we find out more details about reopening.
Posted: May 12th, 2020 under General News, Heathcare News, State Legislator News.