We are updating information, as we receive it from our local office and governing branches.

AS OF 6/15/2020 7:00am

Phase III Opening

Strict Reopening Requirements

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Mount Vernon Chamber of Commerce Businesses Ready for Reopening
Mount Vernon Chamber of Commerce Businesses Ready for Reopening

How Americans can prevent another round of shutdowns

 

While states try to revive the economy, the fate of this pandemic is largely up to individuals.

"People must observe the safety guidelines," top White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said.

"Social distancing must be observed. Face coverings in key places must be observed."

Wearing a face mask is critical to slowing the spread of coronavirus because of how easy it is to infect others -- even without any symptoms.

Some feel face coverings infringe on their freedom of choice- but if more wear them, we'll have MORE freedom to go out.

Face coverings ➡️ less asymptomatic viral spread ➡️ more places open, and sooner!

Exercise and promote your freedom by choosing to wear a face covering! pic.twitter.com/3A4fW2qmN8

— Jerome Adams (@JeromeAdamsMD) June 14, 2020

"We've got to take action now so that we avoid a shutdown in the future," said Lina Hidalgo, the head of government in Harris County, Texas -- the third most populous county in the United States.

Like many parts of the country, Harris County has seen surges in Covid-19 hospitalizations since Memorial Day weekend.

"That only continues to grow," Hidalgo said Friday.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said "the best thing to do is to avoid crowded areas."

"But if you're not going to do that," he said, "please wear a mask."

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Re-Opening Guidelines

 

 

 

CDC Guidelines: Based on CDC recommendations, regions must experience a 14-day decline in hospitalizations and deaths on a 3-day rolling average. Regions with few COVID cases cannot exceed 15 new total cases or 5 new deaths on a 3-day rolling average. A region must have fewer than two new COVID patients admitted per 100,000 residents per day.

 

 

 

Priority Industries for Re-Opening

 

2. Priority Industries for Re-opening: Businesses in each region will re-open in phases.

 

Phase One

 

    Construction

    Manufacturing and wholesale supply chain

    Select retail using curbside pickup only

 

Phase Two

 

    Professional services

    Finance and insurance

    Retail

    Administrative support

    Real estate and rental leasing

 

Phase Three

 

    Restaurants and food service

    Hotels and accommodations

 

Phase Four

 

    Arts, entertainment and recreation

    Education

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Business Precautions

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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.

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  • 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

Anticipating Financial  Assistance?

Businesses with fewer than 100 employees, seeing a decrease in sales up to 25 percent or more will be eligible for zero interest loans up to $75,000 to help mitigate losses in profit.

The City of New York is also offering eligible small businesses with fewer than five employees a grant to cover 40 percent of payroll costs for two months to help retain employees.

“Our agency is prepared to provide targeted, low-interest disaster recovery loans to small businesses that have been severely impacted by the situation, “ said Clarence Stanley, executive director of Small Business Development Center at Lehman College’s School of Continuing & Professional Studies, “and provide every small business with the most effective and customer-focused response possible during these times of uncertainty.”

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The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that can’t be paid because of the disaster’s impact. The interest rate is 3.75 percent for small businesses without credit available elsewhere; businesses with credit available elsewhere are not eligible. The interest rate for non-profits is 2.75 percent. 

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Since 1987, the Bronx SBDC has worked directly with 18,183 small businesses, helping invest $169,095,506 in the area's economy, and create 6,102 jobs. 

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Interested business owners may call 718-960-8806

 The Bronx Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Lehman College Is open and ready to help local businesses impacted by the coronavirus (COVID-19) with financial aid loans and grants.

If you are interested in an SBA loan, apply here.

 

For additional information, contact the SBA disaster assistance customer service center at 1-800-659-2955 (TTY: 1-800-877-8339) or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov

Interested in Testing within your Business?  Click below

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Coronavirus: FDA answers questions on safety of take-out and restaurant food
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Essential Businesses Defined

 

Guidance on essential services under the executive order is as follows:

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ESSENTIAL BUSINESSES OR ENTITIES, including any for profit or non-profit, regardless of the nature of the service, the function they perform, or its corporate or entity structure, are not subject to the in-person restriction.

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(Essential Businesses must continue to comply with the guidance and directives for maintaining a clean and safe work environment issued by the Department of Health).

This guidance is issued by the New York State Department of Economic Development d/b/a Empire State Development and applies to each business location individually and is intended to assist businesses in determining whether they are an essential business and steps to request such designation. With respect to business or entities that operate or provide both essential and non-essential services, supplies or support, only those lines and/or business operations that are necessary to support the essential services, supplies, or support are exempt from the restrictions. 

For purposes of Executive Order 202.6, "Essential Business," means:

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1. Essential Health Care Operations, Including:

  • research and laboratory services

  • hospitals

  • walk-in-care health facilities

  • emergency veterinary and livestock services

  • elder care

  • medical wholesale and distribution

  • home health care workers or aides for the elderly

  • doctor and emergency dental

  • nursing homes, or residential health care facilities or congregate care facilities

  • medical supplies and equipment manufacturers and providers

 

2. Essential Infrastructure, Including:

  • utilities including power generation, fuel supply and transmission

  • public water and wastewater

  • telecommunications and data centers

  • airports/airlines

  • transportation infrastructure such as bus, rail, or for-hire vehicles, garages

  • hotels, and places of accommodation

 

3. Essential Manufacturing, Including:

  • food processing, manufacturing agents, including all foods and beverages

  • chemicals

  • medical equipment/instruments

  • pharmaceuticals

  • sanitary products

  • telecommunications

  • microelectronics/semi-conductor

  • agriculture/farms

  • household paper products

 

4. Essential Retail, Including:

  • grocery stores including all food and beverage stores

  • pharmacies

  • convenience stores

  • farmer's markets

  • gas stations

  • restaurants/bars (but only for take-out/delivery)

  • hardware and building material stores

 

5. Essential Services, Including:

  • trash and recycling collection, processing and disposal

  • mail and shipping services

  • laundromats

  • building cleaning and maintenance

  • child care services

  • auto repair

  • warehouse/distribution and fulfillment

  • funeral homes, crematoriums and cemeteries

  • storage for essential businesses

  • animal shelters

 

6. News Media

 

7. Financial Institutions, Including:

  • banks

  • insurance

  • payroll

  • accounting

  • services related to financial markets

 

8. Providers of Basic Necessities to Economically Disadvantaged Populations, Including:

  • homeless shelters and congregate care facilities

  • food banks

  • human services providers whose function includes the direct care of patients in state-licensed or funded voluntary programs; the care, protection, custody and oversight of individuals both in the community and in state-licensed residential facilities; those operating community shelters and other critical human services agencies providing direct care or support

 

9. Construction, Including:

  • skilled trades such as electricians, plumbers 

  • other related construction firms and professionals for essential infrastructure or for emergency repair and safety purposes

 

10. Defense

  • defense and national security-related operations supporting the U.S. Government or a contractor to the US government

 

11. Essential Services Necessary to Maintain the Safety, Sanitation and Essential Operations of Residences or Other Essential Businesses, Including:

  • law enforcement

  • fire prevention and response

  • building code enforcement

  • security

  • emergency management and response

  • building cleaners or janitors

  • general maintenance whether employed by the entity directly or a vendor

  • automotive repair

  • disinfection

 

12. Vendors that Provide Essential Services or Products, Including Logistics and Technology Support, Child Care and Services:

  • logistics

  • technology support for online services

  • child care programs and services

  • government owned or leased buildings

  • essential government services

 

If the function of your business is not listed above, but you believe that it is essential or it is an entity providing essential services or functions, you may request designation as an essential business.

Houses of worship are not ordered closed however it is strongly recommended no congregate services be held and social distance maintained. 

Businesses and entities that provide other essential services must implement rules that help facilitate social distancing of at least six feet.

Requests by businesses to be designated an essential function as described above, should only be made if they are NOT covered by the guidance.

 

To request designation as an essential business, please click here.

 

Restrictions on requesting designation as an essential business:

  • Any business that only has a single occupant/employee (i.e. gas station) has been deemed exempt and need not submit a request to be designated as an essential business.

  • Businesses ordered to close on Monday, March 15, 2020 under the restrictions on any gathering with 50 or more participants, including but not limited to, bars, restaurants, gyms, movie theaters, casinos, auditoriums, concerts, conferences, worship services, sporting events, and physical fitness centers, are presumed to be compliant with NYS issued restrictions and must remain closed and are not eligible for designation as an essential business for purposes of this guidance. 

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