Blog
News and Views

REOPENING: Phase 3

July 9, 2020
phase 3

Gov. Andrew Cuomo OK'd New York City to enter Phase III on Monday, but as previously announced, without the option of indoor dining.

On July 1, Mayor Bill de Blasio and Governor Andrew Cuomo both scrapped the plan for indoor dinning, for the time being. There’s fear that allowing indoor dining in New York City may result in a rapid increase in COVID-19 spread, something which occurred in other states that reopened or relaxed indoor dining rules in recent weeks.

"Out of an abundance of caution and after seeing other states' experience with indoor dining, we will wait to reopen it as the city moves to Phase Three tomorrow," the governor said Sunday in a press release. "As we end this holiday weekend, I urge everyone to be New York Tough: wear a mask, socially distance, use hand sanitizer and continue the smart practices that have made out state a national leader in combating this virus."

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today updated New Yorkers on the state's progress during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The number of new cases, percentage of tests that were positive and many other helpful data points are available at https://forward.ny.gov/.

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo also announced that New York State will decide whether schools will reopen in the fall during the first week of August. New York State is now consulting with stakeholders on guidance, which will be finalized on July 13. Plans to reopen schools are due on July 31. 

The governor also said that all county fairs will be canceled until further notice out of an abundance of caution. Governor Cuomo previously announced that the New York State Fair will be canceled this summer.

Phase 3 does brings the return of personal care businesses such as nail salons, massage parlors, spas, cosmetic surgery and tanning salons.  

Though indoor dining remains out of the question, outdoor dining continues across New York City. Restaurants and bars have set up shop on the sidewalk or even in the street in front of their businesses. Today, de Blasio announced an expansion of the Open Streets program to allow for more businesses to set up larger street-side cafés to safely draw in diners.

What can you do?

New York state and city now have among the lowest infection rates in the country. Yet the fear is that a sudden change in behavior — combined with the spike in infections in more than 30 states — might cause a second wave of the pandemic here.

Here’s a list of some other things you can do in Phase 3:

  • Work on construction activities. 
  • Go shopping.  
  • Get a hair cut.
  • Get nails done. 
  • Visit an accountant’s office. The federal and state tax deadline was pushed back to July 15 this year due to the pandemic.  
  • Buy a home or rent an apartment.  
  • You can go shopping at auto dealerships to buy a car.
  • Playgrounds are open. 
  • New York City parks are open.
  • Beaches reopened on July 1.