New York State has 44,635 total positive cases of coronavirus and 7,377 new positive cases. New York City has 25,398 total positive cases and 4,005 new cases. So far, 519 people have died in the state.
- UPDATE – NON-ESSENTIAL CONSTRUCTION – Empire State Development has updated their guidance on essential business entities by placing much more narrow definitions on what qualifies as an essential businesses in the construction industry. Please see below in the guidance section for more detailed information. This guidance is effective immediately.
- The Governor was asked about this at his daily press briefing. The Governor repeated his message from yesterday that some construction is considered essential, but other non-essential construction is going to be stopped.
- Governor Cuomo has ordered schools statewide to remain closed until at least April 15th. This is an additional two weeks from the initial closures until April 1. This new date will be reevaluated in the coming weeks in case additional two-week closures are deemed necessary.
- The Governor said that since state revenues are down significantly, and the federal relief package can only be used on healthcare, the state will likely have to cut education funding in this year’s budget.
- The Governor is asking the Trump administration to build temporary hospitals in every borough of the city to provide an additional 4,000 hospital beds.
- According to the Assembly Minority Leader’s office, Assemblymember Brian Miller has tested positive for COVID-19.
Up-To-Date Guidance
- Empire State Development: GUIDANCE FOR DETERMINING WHETHER A BUSINESS ENTERPRISE IS SUBJECT TO A WORKFORCE REDUCTION UNDER RECENT EXECUTIVE ORDERS
- Changes since our last update:
- Construction:
- All non-essential construction must shut down except emergency construction, (e.g. a project necessary to protect health and safety of the occupants, or to continue a project if it would be unsafe to allow to remain undone until it is safe to shut the site).
- Essential construction may continue and includes roads, bridges, transit facilities, utilities, hospitals or health care facilities, affordable housing, and homeless shelters. At every site, if essential or emergency non-essential construction, this includes maintaining social distance, including for purposes of elevators/meals/entry and exit. Sites that cannot maintain distance and safety best practices must close and enforcement will be provided by the state in coordination with the city/local governments. This will include fines of up to $10,000 per violation.
- For purposes of this section construction work does not include a single worker, who is the sole employee/worker on a job site.
- Essential services including
- auto repair
- Previously the above was “automotive repair”
- New York State Insurance Fund: COVID-19: How NYSIF is Responding
- NY Attorney General: COVID-19 Application For Suspension Of Debt Collection Activity
Attached please find a comprehensive document with guidance from across government agencies. We will be updating this document as information becomes available and including it in our daily updates.
In addition to our regular email updates, Ostroff Associates has established two dedicated webpages that will be updated in real time with any new information from government sources relating to COVID-19. Please use these websites as a resource and share with others who would benefit.
Update Page: https://www.ostroffassociates.com/covid-19-updates/
News Page: https://www.ostroffassociates.com/category/covid-19/
