COVID-19

Governor Hochul Announces Plan to End State Mask Requirement in Schools Starting March 2

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced plans to end the state mask requirement in schools starting on March 2, 2022. The Governor made this decision based on the analysis of several key COVID-19 data trends and after consulting with health and education experts, as well as parents, teachers and school administrators. The announcement also follows recent changes in metrics used by the CDC to determine risk and transmission levels in communities....

GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCES WINTER TOOLKIT FOR NEW PHASE OF COVID RESPONSE: KEEP NEW YORK SAFE, OPEN AND MOVING FORWARD

Statewide Indoor Business Mask or Vaccine Requirement to be Lifted Starting February 10, Remains Optional for Businesses, Local Governments, Counties Masks Will Still Be Required In Hospitals, Nursing Homes, Shelters, Transportation and Other Related Entities Requirements Related To Masks in Schools Continue and Will Be Reevaluated in Early March, After Mid-Winter Break, Based on Public Health Data Health Care, Business and Labor Leaders Praise Governor Hochul’s Scientific, Evidence-Based COVID-19...

GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCES EXPANDED ELIGIBILITY FOR THE $800 MILLION COVID-19 PANDEMIC SMALL BUSINESS RECOVERY GRANT PROGRAM

Small Businesses with Revenues Up to $2.5 Million and Experiencing Financial Hardship Due to COVID-19 Are Encouraged to Apply for Grants of Up to $50,000 Governor Kathy Hochul today announced changes to New York State’s $800 million COVID-19 Pandemic Small Business Recovery Grant Program that will enable more small businesses to apply for funding. Starting today, businesses with revenues up to $2.5 million can apply for grants, up from the previous threshold...

ON FIRST DAY IN OFFICE, GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCES COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO HELP ENSURE A SAFE, PRODUCTIVE RETURN TO SCHOOLS THIS FALL

Directs Department of Health to Institute Universal Mask Requirement in All Schools Governor Pursuing Options to Mandate Vaccines for School Employees Launches COVID-19 Testing in Schools Program Using $585 Million in Federal Funds in Partnership with Counties and BOCES Establishes Additional Back-to-School Testing Program in Partnership with U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Rite Aid and BioReference, and Acquires Millions of Masks for Students and Educators On her...

GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCES CHANGES TO ACCELERATE STATE RENT RELIEF PROGRAM AND ATTRACT MORE APPLICANTS

Orders State to Invest Additional $1 Million in Marketing and Outreach Efforts to Boost Applications in Underserved Areas; All Tenants Who Apply are Protected From Eviction While Application is Under Review    Directs Rapid Review of Workflow and Redeployment of Vendor Staff Specifically for Landlord Outreach and Resolving Incomplete Applications to Increase Payments  New County-By-County Data on Rent Relief Payments Will Be Posted Publicly Later This Week to Increase...

GOVERNOR CUOMO ANNOUNCES COVID-19 VACCINATION MANDATE FOR HEALTHCARE WORKERS

Department of Health Issues Section 16 Orders to Hospitals and Long-Term Care Facilities Requiring Policy to Ensure All Employees Are Vaccinated First Dose Required by September 27 Department of Health Authorizes Third Dose for Immunocompromised New Yorkers Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced today that all healthcare workers in New York State, including staff at hospitals and long-term care facilities (LTCF), including nursing homes, adult care, and other congregate care settings, will be required to...

Governor Cuomo Announces MTA and New York Port Authority Employees Will Be Required to Get Vaccinated For COVID-19 or Be Tested Weekly Starting Labor Day

GOVERNOR CUOMO ANNOUNCES MTA AND NEW YORK PORT AUTHORITY EMPLOYEES WILL BE REQUIRED TO GET VACCINATED FOR COVID-19 OR BE TESTED WEEKLY STARTING LABOR DAY MTA Vaccination Sites to Reopen for Employees   9 Vaccination Sites to Open in Areas with High Concentrations of State Employees Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced today that MTA and Port Authority employees working in New York facilities will be required to be vaccinated for COVID-19 or...

Governor Cuomo Launches Second round of $175 Million Workforce Development Initiative

Second Round of Funding Makes $48 Million Available to Help New Yorkers Find Quality, Well-Paid Jobs and to Meet the Short and Long-Term Workforce Needs of Businesses Consolidated Funding Application Through the Regional Economic Development Councils Opens Monday, August 2 Initiative Aims to Create Economic Opportunity for Every New Yorker and Furthers New York’s Goal to Reimagine, Rebuild and Renew after the COVID-19 Pandemic   Governor Andrew M. Cuomo...

Governor Cuomo Announces Selection of Laboratories to Assist the State in the Identification of COVID-19 Variants

Effort Builds on State’s Current Robust Genome/Variant Surveillance Efforts Data Generated to Help Support Discoveries to Inform Public Health Intervention Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the selection of five laboratories to bolster state efforts in identifying COVID-19 variants. The New York State Department of Health is partnering with these laboratories to expand the genetic sequencing of specimens positive for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The selected laboratories have sequencing...

Governor Cuomo Announces New York Ending COVID-19 State Disaster on June 24

Statewide 7-Day Average Positivity is 0.36%—Record Low for 26 Consecutive Days, Has Declined for 79 Consecutive Day 52,526 Vaccine Doses Administered Over Last 24 Hours 6 COVID-19 Deaths Statewide Yesterday Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that New York will end the state disaster emergency declared on March 7, 2020 to fight COVID-19. Given New York’s dramatic progress against COVID-19, with the success in vaccination rates, and declining hospitalization and positivity statewide the state of emergency...