Stay informed about the coronavirus

Reopening Updates

Education

  • All New York City schools are closed for in-person learning until further notice. Remote instruction will continue for all students. (https://www.schools.nyc.gov/school-life/health-and-wellness/coronavirus-update)
  • Schools outside of New York City with reopening plans approved by the state Education Department are open for the 2020-21 school year. Schools that have reopened must close if the region’s 7-day average infection rate exceeds 9% after Aug. 1.
  • To protect the health of students, faculty and staff, the following guidelines must be followed:
    • Everyone must wear face masks in school facilities and on school grounds, though students should be permitted to remove their masks during meals, instruction and for short breaks, as long as they maintain social distance. Students must also wear face masks on school buses and measures should be considered to reduce bus density.
    • Everyone must maintain a distance of at least six feet in all directions, or physical barriers must be constructed if maintaining that distance isn’t possible. When students are singing, playing wind instruments or engaged in aerobic exercise, a distance of 12 feet must be maintained.
    • To the greatest extent possible, schools should “cohort” students. Cohorts are self-contained, reasonably sized groups of students that must remain fixed for the duration of the COVID-19 health emergency. Schools must also limit intermingling between cohorts as much as possible.
    • Students, faculty, staff and any other visitors must be screened before entering school facilities. Any person with a temperature above 100.0°F must be denied entry or sent to a dedicated pickup area. Faculty and staff must also answer daily screening questionnaires, while students should periodically fill out questionnaires.
    • Schools must develop specific policies for vulnerable populations, including students, faculty and staff, that accommodate their specific situations to the greatest extent possible.
  • For more information on school reopening guidelines, visit: https://www.governor.ny.gov/sites/governor.ny.gov/files/atoms/files/Pre-K_to_Grade_12_Schools_MasterGuidence.pdf
  • All schools outside of New York City must close if their region is placed in a red or orange cluster zone under the state’s Cluster Action Initiative. Schools in those zones can only reopen if they:
    • Remain closed for at least 4 calendar days, including 2 days to clean school facilities and conduct additional testing, after the zone designation is announced
    • Ensure all students, faculty and staff test negative before they return to school in-person.

Once schools in a red or orange zone have reopened, they must conduct weekly recurring testing of the entire school community and limit in-person attendance to 25%. To learn more, visit: https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-cuomo-releases-guidelines-testing-protocol-schools-reopen-red-or-orange-micro-cluster

Phase 3

Phase 4

  • During Phase 4, the following categories of businesses can resume operations:
    • Higher Education
    • Low-Risk Outdoor Arts & Entertainment
    • Low-Risk Indoor Arts & Entertainment
    • Media Production

Testing

  • New York’s COVID-19 diagnostic testing criteria has been expanded. The following New Yorkers are now eligible for testing (coronavirus.health.ny.gov/covid-19-testing):
    • Any individual with COVID-19 symptoms
    • Any individual who has come into contact with a person that has COVID-19
    • Any individual who is subject to a precautionary or mandatory quarantine
    • Any health care worker, nursing home worker or first responder
    • Any essential worker who directly interacts with the public
    • Any individual who can return to their workplace in Phase 1 of the reopening process
    • Any individual who recently attended a protest
  • Remember, you still need to schedule an appointment for a COVID-19 diagnostic test by calling 888-364-3065 or your health care provider. To find a testing location near you, visit: coronavirus.health.ny.gov/find-test-site-near-you.

Changes to Day-to-Day Life