Retail companies were allowed to resume Tuesday with curbside pickup under the first phase of the state's reopening guidelines. Other industries that were allowed to open include construction, manufacturing, agriculture, forestry, hunting, fishing, and wholesale trade.
Shades Unlimited in Cheektowaga is among the retail companies that reopened on Tuesday. Owner Laurie Koerner is used to customers bringing a lamp inside of her store to receive a custom shade. Now, though, she now has to rely on curbside service.
Many manufacturing and construction companies still operated despite the mass statewide closures because they were deemed essential. Companies like Big L Windows and Doors were among those that operated, though only about half efficiency. Company president Bill Horbett, Sr. said they've garnered business digitally and conducted extremely limited in-person consultations.
"90 percent of our workforce or 95 percent is expected to be back in the building on June 1," Horbett said. "It was unrealistic for us to try and get it back together so quickly. It's just hard because everybody has different things like child care and getting back to work."
Employees for his company will undergo a safety training before heading back into the field.
"We're going to limit the people that can come into our showroom," Schunk said. "Obviously they're going to need to wear masks and gloves, regardless of their distancing. We'll be able to keep a good six-to-ten feet away from each other because our showroom is so large."
He also said they're considering not allowing children into their showroom even as they reach phase two or relying solely on appointment-only visits.
Phase one will continue for at least two weeks. The earliest that the Western New York region can reach the second phase is by June 2. To reach that phase, the region will have to continue to meet the state's metrics for opening such as having a decline in hospitalizations and deaths, and an increase in diagnostic testing, contact tracers, and at least 30 percent capacity of hospital and ICU beds.
See how the Western New York region fares in its coronavirus metrics by clicking here
