NEW YORK (WKBW) — The following regions have been approved to begin Phase Two of the New York Forward program as the state continues its regional phased reopening approach to help slow and stop the spread of COVID-19:
- Central New York
- Finger Lakes
- Mohawk Valley
- North Country
- Southern Tier
The Finger Lakes region includes three counties in the 7 Eyewitness News viewing area: Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming County.
Businesses in the regions entering Phase Two can reopen if they are in one of the approved industries, and if their reopening plan has been approved by the state.
As of now the industries that will be approved to reopen under Phase Two are:
- Offices
- Real Estate
- Essential and Phase II In-Store Retail
- Vehicle Sales, Leases, and Rentals
- Retail Rental, Repair, and Cleaning
- Commercial Building Management
- Hair Salons and Barbershops
The state also released guidance on the following businesses that remain closed:
- Malls; specifically, any indoor common portions of retail shopping malls with 100,000 or more square feet of retail space available for lease; however, any stores located within shopping malls, which have their own external entrances open to the public, separate from the general mall entrance (e.g. strip malls), may open;
- Dine-in and on-premise restaurant or bar service, excluding take-out or delivery for off-premise consumption;
- Large gathering/event venues, including but not limited to establishments that host concerts, conferences, or other in-person performances or presentations in front of an in-person audience;
- Gyms, fitness centers, and exercise classes, except for remote or streaming services;
- Video lottery and casino gaming facilities;
- Movie theaters, except drive-ins; and
- Places of public amusement, whether indoors or outdoors, including but not limited to, locations with amusement rides, carnivals, amusement parks, water parks, aquariums, zoos, arcades, fairs, children’s play centers, funplexes, theme parks, bowling alleys, family and children’s attractions.
