NEW GUIDELINES
No malls, gyms, movie theaters to reopen in Phase 4; travel advisory being implemented
NEWYORK » Gov. Andrew Cuomo returned Wednesday from a brief hiatus on conducting a daily COVID-19 pandemic press conference in New York City. Along with New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy and Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont, Cuomo announced the trio of states will be implementing a 14- day travel advisory effective 12 a.m. June 25.
People from other states must quarantine for 14 days. Among those states presently above the set infection rate threshold presently are: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Washington, Utah, and Texas.
Additionally, Cuomo elaborated on news made late Tuesday pertaining to Phase 4 industries. The governor’s office noted malls, movie theaters and gyms will not be among those allowed to reopen on Friday, June 26.
Presently, seven of New York’s ten regions, including the Capital Region, are in Phase 3, with New York City, Mid-Hudson, and Long Island still in Phase 2.
Five regions (Central New York, Mohawk Valley, North Country, Southern Tier, and the Finger Lakes) are slated to enter Phase 4 on Friday but the Capital Region is not among them.
“On Phase 4 we have low-risk outdoor arts, lowrisk indoor arts, entertainment, museums, film and movie production higher education and professional sports,” Cuomo remarked on industries able to open in Phase 4.
Additionally, according to the governor, the New York Yankees and New York Mets will open spring (or more accurately, summer) training in New York, starting July 1.
Plus, under Phase 4, indoor religious gatherings can increase in occupancy from 25% to 33%, and social gatherings can expand from 25 people to 50. Outdoor graduations with social distancing accommodations can go up to 150 people starting June 26.
Summer day camps can open June 29.
Cuomo also commented on new information influencing their decision to have malls, movie theaters and gyms remain closed.
“We are continuing to study malls, movie theaters, and gyms. There’s new in
formation that comes out on this virus every day and anyone thinks that this is a static situation is wrong,” Cuomo remarked.
“We’re continuing to study the most recent developments, we’re looking at what happened in other states,” Cuomo continued.
“There’s some reports that malls, bars, certain social clubs with air conditioning, that air conditioning may not be cleansing the air of the virus and just recirculating the virus. So we’re studying that,” Cuomo added.
Rich Azzopardi, senior advisor to the governor reiterated those remarks in a statement, noting, “There are some things that don’t fit neatly into a phase that are going to require further study and we’re going through that right now. This includes evaluating what’s going on in other states to avoid going backwards.”
The governor did not say if there will be a “Phase 5” for those industries or if they will remain closed until the advent of a vaccine.
Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin was critical of Cuomo, asking why the governor’s office in April had denied the county’s request for a 14-day quarantine for those traveling to the county, when downstate and especially New York City were a hot spot for COVID-19 cases. Back on March 26, the county instituted a 14day health order.
“We had asked for a quarantine from downstate hotspots at the start of the outbreak,” McLaughlin said. “The governor did not even respond to the request.
“When New York City had a much higher number of cases and a higher number than any of the supposed hotspots, there was no action. So it is hard to see the reasoning here.”
Local of ficials also weighed in on Cuomo’s decision to keep malls, movie theaters and gyms shuttered during Phase 4.
“This is an unnecessary delay and creates more confusion and anxiety among our residents and businesses as we move through the reopening process,” McLaughlin stated on the decision to keep malls, movie theaters and gyms closed in Phase 4.
“Once again, the state is changing the reopening process on a moment’s notice and that is unfair given the fact we are meeting the metrics set by the state,” McLaughlin continued.
“Based on what we heard [ Tuesday], the reopening process could be continued by the state for months to come. At the start of this process, the state gave us the metrics to meet and the region has met those metrics. It is now up to the state to honor the bargain and allow for a careful but productive reopening that restores quality of life and business while maintaining public health,” McLaughlin said.
CCE President of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce Todd Shimkus also expressed disappointment of the governor’s decision.
“We spoke [ Wednesday] morning with Saratoga County Administrator Spencer Hellwig and asked him to advocate in the region’s control room to change this,” Shimkus stated.
“We know of two local fitness facilities, one in Clifton Park and a second in Saratoga Springs, that have already permanently closed. The vast majority of Saratoga County’s health and wellness community is comprised of locally owned small businesses,” Shimkus noted on facilities feeling the effects of the pandemic.
“Since 2014 when we created our Healthy Saratoga movement, we’ve been a visible and vocal promoter of these local businesses. Now it is our mission to lead an advocacy effort to save these small businesses,” Shimkus continued.
“As we know, these health and wellness organizations have always been focused on the health of their clients. This means they should be able to safely open using all best practices indoors and out putting health first as we do in Saratoga County,” Shimkus added.
State Sen. Daphne Jordan, R- Halfmoon, also spoke out against changes to Phase 4.
“Governor Cuomo’s continued shut down of our economy is hurting small businesses, sending more New Yorkers onto the unemployment lines, and is wrecking our economy,” she said. “As a former small business owner, I know it will take years to undo the economic damage this governor has done.
“The governor’s latest bungled decision to move the reopening goalposts yet again sends a terrible message and causes further economic hardship for job creators who are struggling just to keep their heads above water. It’s outrageous that the governor has chosen Hollywood heavyweights over main street to move ahead in the Phase 4 reopening.
“Frankly, the governor’s latest inexplicable decision goes against the very criteria that his administration has been telling small businesses and communities for the past several weeks. It’s as if the governor wants to delay a full economic reopening just so he can hang onto his expanded powers for a while longer.
“Governor Cuomo needs to stop playing games and allow affected businesses to move forward under Phase 4 as originally planned.”
Albany County Executive Dan McCoy also seemed to share in the disappointment of the announcement.
“It goes without saying that the process of reopening New York’s economy in the wake of a global pandemic is a fluid one, and county and regional leaders are constantly getting new information from the State as we move forward without risking the health and safety of our residents,” McCoy stated.
“After our Capital Regional Control Room call [Tuesday] with Budget Director Robert Mujica, we now know that Phase 4 will not allow for the reopening of all remaining businesses at the outset. Outdoor and lower risk indoor activities will be authorized to move forward when Phase 4 begins, which includes move and film production, along with museums, aquariums and zoos at 25% capacity,” McCoy noted on the control room discussion.
“Other industries will be authorized on an individual basis dependent on associated risk levels and the current health data. Unfortunately at this time, outdoor theme parks, malls, gyms and movie theaters have not yet been cleared to reopen at the beginning of Phase 4. As we get new information on any updated guidelines, I will share it as promptly as possible with Albany County and Capital Region residents,” McCoy added.