Category: news

Governor Cuomo announced that an additional two states along with the Virgin Islands have been added to the 14-day travel quarantine list.   The new states are Hawaii and South Dakota.  Alaska, New Mexico, Ohio, and Rhode Island have been removed from the list.

 

The full updated list of states on the travel advisory include:

 

• Alabama
• Arkansas
• Arizona
• California
• Florida
• Georgia
• Hawaii
• Iowa
• Idaho
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maryland
• Minnesota
• Missouri
• Mississippi
• Montana
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Nebraska
• Nevada
• Oklahoma
• Puerto Rico
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Utah
• Virginia
• Virgin Islands
• Wisconsin

 

The travel advisory quarantine applies to any person that arrives from a state with a positive test rate higher than 10 per 100,000 residents over a seven-day rolling average or a state with a 10% or higher positivity rate over a seven-day rolling average.

 

People caught violating the advisory risk civil penalties ranging from $2,000 to $10,000.

 

There are exceptions to the travel advisory for essential businesses.  Guidance on travel to these states for essential employees can be found at https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/covid-19-travel-advisory.

Earlier today, Governor Cuomo announced that an additional three states along with Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico have been added to the 14-day travel quarantine list.   The new states are Illinois, Kentucky and Minnesota, making 34 states total, plus the two territories. Minnesota was put back on the list after being removed last week.

 

The full updated list of states on the travel advisory include:

 

• Alabama
• Alaska
• Arkansas
• Arizona
• California
• Delaware
• Florida
• Georgia
• Idaho
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maryland
• Minnesota
• Mississippi
• Missouri
• Montana
• Nebraska
• New Mexico
• Nevada
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Puerto Rico
• South Carolina
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Utah
• Virginia
• Washington
• Washington D.C.
• Wisconsin

 

The travel advisory quarantine applies to any person that arrives from a state with a positive test rate higher than 10 per 100,000 residents over a seven-day rolling average or a state with a 10% or higher positivity rate over a seven-day rolling average.

 

People caught violating the advisory risk civil penalties ranging from $2,000 to $10,000, Gov. Cuomo said last month.

 

There are exceptions to the travel advisory for essential businesses.  Guidance on travel to these states for essential employees can be found at https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/covid-19-travel-advisory.

Governor Cuomo announced that an additional 10 states have been added to the 14-day travel quarantine list: Alaska, Delaware, Indiana, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Virginia, and Washington.  In addition, Minnesota has been removed from the list.

The full list is now as follows:

Alabama

Alaska

Arkansas

Arizona

California

Delaware

Florida

Georgia

Idaho

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Louisiana

Maryland

Mississippi

Missouri

Montana

Nebraska

Nevada

New Mexico

North Carolina

North Dakota

Ohio

Oklahoma

South Carolina

Tennessee

Texas

Utah

Virginia

Washington

Wisconsin

 

Guidance on travel to these states for essential employees can be found at https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/covid-19-travel-advisory.

Earlier today, Governor Cuomo announced new guidance restricting alcohol sales in New York.  The new restriction requires a meal to be ordered along with the sale of any alcoholic beverage.

 

Additional guidance was released this evening by the New York State Liquor Authority to clarify Gov. Cuomo’s announcement.  Specifically, the guidance provides the following clarification:

 

• The purpose of the requirement that food be sold with alcohol is to permit outside and limited indoor dining (outside of New York City), with alcoholic beverages, while restricting the congregating and mingling that arise in a bar service/drinking only environment.  Accordingly, this SLA Guidance defines the relevant terms in Executive Order 202.52 as follows:
• “Purchase of a food item which is consistent with the food availability requirement of the license under the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law” shall mean that for each patron in a seated party, an item of food must be purchased at the same time as the purchase of the initial alcoholic beverage(s).
  • However, one or more shareable food item(s) may be purchased, so long as it/they would sufficiently serve the number of people in the party and each item would individually meet the food standard below.
• “A food item which is consistent with the food availability requirement of the license under the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law” shall mean:
  • For manufacturers with on premises service privileges: sandwiches, soups or  other  such  foods, whether fresh, processed, pre-cooked or frozen; and/or food items intended to compliment the tasting of alcoholic beverages, which shall mean a diversified selection of food that is ordinarily consumed without the use of tableware and can be conveniently consumed, including  but  not limited to: cheese, fruits, vegetables, chocolates, breads, mustards and crackers
  • For on premises retailers with a food availability requirement, including restaurants and taverns: sandwiches, soups or other foods, whether fresh, processed, precooked or frozen.

 

More information can be found at https://sla.ny.gov/guidance-requirement-licensees-premises-service-privileges-serve-food-alcoholic-beverages .  The IDA will provide additional information as soon as it becomes available.

As the state looks to contain the spread of COVID-19, Governor Cuomo continues to enhance existing restrictions put in place to protect the public health and safety.  Yesterday, the state announced that business operators and building owners must deny entry and/or remove any person who fails to comply with face-covering requirements where social distancing cannot be maintained.   This addition to the rules is intended to assist in the enforcement of existing Executive Orders mandating face coverings, social distancing requirements and restricting non-essential gatherings, and it allows violators to be charged as a violation of public health law enforceable by up to $10,000 in fines.

 

In addition, travel restrictions and mandatory quarantine are still in place for individuals traveling from 22 States (Delaware was recently removed) which have a seven-day rolling average of positive tests in excess of 10%, or positive cases exceeding 10 per 100,000 residents.  This list is constantly changing and the IDA will continue to communicate as states are added or removed.

 

Businesses should be aware that the state has put in place a reporting system to file a complaint against a business or employer who is suspected of violating the travel restrictions.  Companies should make sure they are aware of which states are included and understand exemptions for travel for essential businesses.

 

Details on the travel restrictions can be found at https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/covid-19-travel-advisory .

Gov. Andrew Cuomo just announced four more states have been added to the coronavirus travel advisory, which requires incoming travelers from these states to self-quarantine for two weeks upon arrival.

The new states are Minnesota, New Mexico, Ohio and Wisconsin.

The full list as of Tuesday is as follows:

• Alabama
• Arkansas
• Arizona
• California
• Delaware
• Florida
• Georgia
• Iowa
• Idaho
• Kansas
• Louisiana
• Minnesota
• Mississippi
• Nevada
• New Mexico
• North Carolina
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• South Carolina
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Utah
• Wisconsin

 

The travel advisory quarantine applies to any person who arrives from a state with a positive test rate higher than 10 per 100,000 residents over a seven-day rolling average or a state with a 10% or higher positivity rate over a seven-day rolling average.

People caught violating the advisory risk civil penalties ranging from $2,000 to $10,000.

Travelers visiting any New York airport will need to fill out a New York State Traveler Health Form upon arrival.  The form asks for the names and addresses of the arriving individual or family, whether they have traveled to states designated as having a significant community spread, if they have experienced fever, chills, cough or difficulty breathing, and their final destination in New York State.

The form also addresses resident essential workers and those essential workers who plan to be in New York State for short periods and those essential workers who must remain for more than 36 hours.

Specifics on the travel advisory and essential worker exemptions can be found at https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/covid-19-travel-advisory.

Today, Governor Cuomo provided guidance for local communities regarding school reopening in the fall.  Regions in Phase IV with less than a 5% coronavirus infection rate over a 14-day rolling average could reopen.  Schools, after a restart, will have to shut down if a 7-day infection rate hits 9%, according to the governor.

School districts have until the end of the month to develop local plans on how they will handle:

• Communication/Family & Community
• Engagement
• Health and Safety
• Facilities
• Child Nutrition
• Transportation
• Social Emotional Well-Being
• School Schedules
• Budget and Fiscal Matters
• Attendance and Chronic Absenteeism
• Technology and Connectivity
• Teaching and Learning
• Special Education
• Bilingual Education and
• World Languages
• Staffing

 

A final decision by the state on school reopening will come the first week in August.

Also, The Business Council of New York State reported on Friday that NYS Department of Health issued an emergency rule to address wearing masks in public effective July 9.  Language in the rule says:

Business operators and building owners, and those authorized on their behalf, shall deny admittance to any person who fails to comply with this section [requiring face-coverings] and shall require or compel such persons’ removal. Provided, however, that this regulation shall be applied in a manner consistent with the federal American with Disabilities Act, New York State or New York City Human Rights Law, and any other applicable provision of law.

 

Read the entire rule on our COVID-19 web page here .

 

The rule does specify that any individual violating any provision of the rule is subject to civil penalty up to $1,000 per violation, while businesses are subject to civil penalties specified in statute, up to $2,000 per day of violation.

 

Steuben County businesses that have an issue with enforcing mask restrictions should contact County Manager Jack Wheeler at (607) 664-2245 to discuss enforcement.

Good afternoon:  There are several state updates to pass along.

 

• The state has updated its guidance pertaining to restaurants and bars. The date through which restaurants and bars can continue to offer alcohol for takeout or delivery has been extended to July 26.  Outdoor guidelines pertaining to the consumption of alcohol have been extended until August 5.  Please visit the Liquor Authority’s web site for more information – https://sla.ny.gov/.

 

• On Friday, July 10, malls can reopen in regions in Phase 4 as long as they have enhanced HVAC filtration systems.

 

• All county fairs have been canceled.

 

• Final guidance on reopening schools will be issued by the state on July 13. Schools will then have until July 31 to submit their reopening plans to the state.  During the first week of August, the state will make a final decision about reopening.

 

Good afternoon:  Gov. Cuomo announced today that three more states have been added to the travel advisory that requires individuals returning from states on the list to quarantine for 14 days upon their return to New York.  Those states are Delaware, Kansas and Oklahoma, which brings the total number of states on the list to 19.  A full listing can be found at https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-cuomo-announces-individuals-traveling-new-york-three-additional-states-will-be.

 

As a reminder, essential workers as defined by the state are exempt from the travel advisory but must follow certain guidelines depending on time spent out of state.  Please review the Department of Health’s interim guidance for more information at https://www.steubencountyida.com/docs/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/DOH-guidance.pdf.

Good morning:  We hope you had a safe and healthy holiday weekend.

 

On Saturday, President Trump signed into law an extension of the Paycheck Protection Program.  The program was set to expire on June 30, but the law extends it through August 8.  Roughly $130 billion is still available to small businesses and non-profits.  Visit the Small Business Administration’s web site for more information at https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/coronavirus-relief-options/paycheck-protection-program.

 

Locally, Steuben County businesses are eligible for funding through the Emergency Relief Loan Program.  Thirty-month loans of up to $20,000 are available for working capital needs which have resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic.  REDEC is administering the loan program and can be reached at 607-962-3021 or info@redec.us for more information.