Covid-19 Information

 Please visit https://forward.ny.gov/ for updated COVID-19 guidelines.

Effective May 19, New York has adopted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) “Interim Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People,” issued May 13, for most businesses and public settings. 

Businesses are authorized to require masks and six feet of social distancing for employees and/or patrons within their establishments OR adhere to CDC guidance, which advises that fully vaccinated individuals do not need to wear masks or be socially distanced, but unvaccinated individuals must continue to wear masks and be socially distanced in most settings.

• The Department of Health strongly recommends masks and six feet of social distancing in indoor settings where vaccination status of individuals is unknown. Any mask requirements that businesses choose to implement must adhere to all applicable federal and state laws and regulations (e.g., Americans with Disabilities Act) 

• This provision applies across most commercial settings, including but not limited to retail, food services, offices, gyms and fitness centers, amusement and family entertainment, hair salons, barber shops and other personal care services, among other settings. However, Pre-K to 12 schools, public transit, homeless shelters, correctional facilities, nursing homes, and healthcare settings are exempt and must continue to follow the State's existing COVID-19 health guidelines until more New Yorkers are fully vaccinated. If businesses are implementing the CDC guidance, they may require proof of full vaccination status through paper form, digital application, or the State's Excelsior Pass. Alternatively, such businesses may rely upon self-reporting of vaccination status (e.g., honor system). 

• If the business is following the CDC guidance, fully vaccinated individuals do not need to wear masks or be socially distanced, but unvaccinated individuals must continue to wear masks and be socially distanced. The business may decide to apply this guidance to the entire establishment or a separate, designated part of the establishment. 

Hygiene, Cleaning, and Disinfection

• Responsible Parties must provide and maintain hand hygiene stations on site, as follows: 

o For handwashing: soap, running warm water, and disposable paper towels. 

o For hand sanitizing: an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol for areas where handwashing facilities may not be available or practical. 

▪ Hand sanitizer must be placed throughout the site for use by employees and patrons/players/spectators. It should be placed in convenient locations such as points of entrance/exit. 

o Responsible Parties should post signage indicating that visibly soiled hands should be washed with soap and water; hand sanitizer is not effective on visibly soiled hands. 

• Responsible Parties must provide appropriate cleaning and disinfection supplies for shared and frequently touched surfaces and encourage employees to use these supplies, following manufacturers’ instructions, before and after use of these surfaces, followed by hand hygiene.

• Responsible Parties must conduct regular cleaning and disinfection of the site and more frequent cleaning and disinfection for high risk areas used by many individuals and for frequently touched surfaces. Cleaning and disinfection must be rigorous and ongoing and should occur at least after each shift, daily, or more frequently as needed. 

o Responsible Parties must ensure regular cleaning and disinfection of restrooms. Restrooms should be cleaned and disinfected more often depending on frequency of use.

o Responsible Parties must ensure that equipment is regularly cleaned and disinfected using registered disinfectants, including at least as often as workers change workstations or move to a new set of tools. Refer to the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) list of products registered in New York State and identified by the EPA as effective against COVID-19.

o If cleaning or disinfection products or the act of cleaning and disinfection causes safety hazards or degrades the material, equipment or machinery, Responsible Parties must put in place hand hygiene stations between use and/or supply disposable gloves and/or limitations on the number of employees and patrons/players using such equipment or machinery.

Please click to view the complete NYS CDC Guidance Summary

https://www.governor.ny.gov/sites/default/files/2021-05/NYS_CDCGuidance_Summary.pdf