Even though the region can now begin its phased-in approach to opening, there's plenty that businesses and people should know about the process to reopen the economy.
Construction, wholesale trade, agriculture, forestry, fishing, and some retail companies are all allowed to reopen. Retail companies are only eligible to open for curbside pickup. Each company must establish a safety plan for their respective businesses and post it in a place that is accessible to employees.
CLICK HERE FOR A BUSINESS SAFETY TEMPLATE
The business safety plan highlights how businesses will take care of employees using physical distancing. All businesses must ensure six-feet of separation or require employees wear a mask if two people must be close together. Businesses must also have social distancing markers using tape or signs and limit in-person gatherings as much as possible.
However, a business does not have to submit their plan to the state. Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz said that they don't want to enforce the plan but will be obligated to do so if they receive a complaint on it.
"Every business that falls under phase one has to have a plan on day one in place, otherwise they can't open," Poloncarz said. "They do not have to file it with New York State. They do have to keep it on site."
A business that does not have the appropriate plans will not be allowed to reopen and will be shut down by the county.
The state provides has provided guidelines for each of the industries. Click the following link to see the guidelines for each respective industry
"AT LEAST TWO WEEKS PER PHASE"
It will take at least two weeks to go from phase one to phase two of reopening. Phase two of reopening the economy will include a return to work for professional services, finance, insurance, retail, administrative support, and real estate. The third phase includes restaurants and other food services while the fourh phase includes arts, entertainment, recreation, and education. At the earliest, everything in Western New York could reopen by the end of June.
"It's basically the incubation period of the virus," Cuomo explained. "It will show up in about 14 days. If a lot of people get infected today, there's then the incubation period, then symptoms or not, and then, if all else fails, the way you see the increase is in the hospitalization."
The governor said that the data will be posted daily.
