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Reopening guidance for Phase Two of New York Forward program released

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NEW YORK (WKBW) — Reopening guidance has been released for 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.

As of Friday afternoon, no region has officially been approved to begin Phase Two, but the state's guidance says the following industries will be allowed to reopen:

  • 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

Each industry has specific guidance it must follow upon reopening, you can find the detailed summary on the state's website here.

Also included in the state's guidance are the following businesses that remain closed pursuant to the governor's executive orders:

  • 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.