Community, Lead Stories

Westchester enters Phase 4 of reopening

On Tuesday, July 7, Westchester County entered the Phase 4 reopening stage under Gov. An-drew Cuomo’s NY Forward re-opening plan as we continue to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Businesses that will be eligible to begin reopening in Phase 4 are:

• Higher education

• Low-risk outdoor arts and entertainment

• Low-risk indoor arts and entertainment

• Media production

• Professional sports competitions with no fans

• Food services, including restaurants food trucks and other food concessions, many of which had been eligible for takeout and outdoor dining services previously.

The state has a number of mandatory guidelines and best practices outlined for each of these industries that are able now to reopen.   As with prior reopening stages, each reopening business must develop a written Safety Plan outlining how its work-place will prevent the spread of COVID-19.  In Phase 4, social gatherings of up to 50 people are allowed and indoor religious gatherings will be allowed at up to 33 percent of the indoor site’s capacity.

Cuomo also announced that New York City entered Phase 3 of reopening on Monday, July 6, without indoor dining and subject to comprehensive state guidance.   The Long Island Region was on track to enter Phase 4 on Wednesday, July 8.

The governor also announced that the state Department of Health, in consultation with the Reimagine Education Advisory Council and others, is finalizing guidance on the possible reopening of schools in September.  New York state previously directed all school districts to develop reopening plans. A decision on whether to reopen schools in September has not been made yet.

Cuomo also announced that casinos and movie theaters will currently remain closed as the state government continues to review the science and facts on their safe reopening.  The governor also announced that New York state will make industry recommendations on the use of air filtration technology to potentially eliminate the spread of COVID-19 through air conditioning systems.   As evidence emerges that COVID-19 spread is linked more to airborne transmission than to surface area transmission, New York state is studying filters, their compatibility with existing air systems, the expense of modifications to air conditioning systems and other factors.

“We are closely monitoring the gauges on the reopening valve to see if the infection or hospitalization rate is going up, and we will tighten or loosen the valve as necessary depending on the data,” he said. “If we see spikes in data or lack of compliance, we will slow down the reopening valve and ad-just as necessary.

New York City goes into Phase III but with no indoor dining. The numbers show we are right where we want to be, but what’s happening around the country is a cold reminder that we need to continue being cautious and smart and disciplined—no one wants to go back to the hell that we went through.” (Submitted)