NY Forward Phase 1 Reopening

New York City will enter Phase One of New York Forward reopening of “non-essential businesses and business activities” this Monday, June 8th according to Governor Cuomo.

Phase One will include businesses in:

• Construction (residential, nonresidential, roads and bridges, land subdivision, utilities)

• Non-essential retail (eg. clothing, electronics, appliances, furniture, office supplies, sporting goods, book stores, gift shops & florists) with curbside or in-store pickup service

• Manufacturing

• Wholesale suppliers

Check out the Phase One Industries reference page which includes guidelines for each of the above-referenced sectors. You must read and AFFIRM the documents by completing the online form at the end of the guidance section for your business sector.

Upon reopening, all businesses, including those that have been designated as essential, must develop a written Safety Plan outlining how its workplace will prevent the spread of COVID-19. A business may fill out this New York Forward Safety Plan Template to fulfill the requirement or may develop its own Safety Plan.

The Safety Plan must address key topics such as physical distancing, protective equipment, hygiene and cleaning, communication, screening, contact tracing, and disinfecting of contaminated areas. Note that this plan does not need to be submitted to a state agency for approval but must be retained on-premises and available to the NYS Department of Health or local health or safety authorities in the event of an inspection.

Check NY Forward Business Express lookup tool to assess the phase of when your business is eligible to reopen and the public health and safety standards with which the business must comply, and the NY Forward FAQ Document for more detail.