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Metro Creative Connection

Welcome to phase 3!

Tue, Jun 16th 2020 11:40 am

On Tuesday, Western New York entered phase three of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s “New York Forward” reopening process. This stage includes the following:

•Food service and restaurants: Per the “New York Forward” website, “In regions that have reached Phase 3, such establishments may open indoor spaces with seating for customers, in accordance with the guidelines below/in “Interim COVID-19 Guidance for Food Services.” “Outdoor space” is defined as open-air space designated for the consumption of food/beverage, which may have a temporary or fixed cover (e.g. awning or roof), so long as such cover has at least two open sides for airflow.”

Click here to download a copy of the guidelines for employers and employees.

•Personal care: Per the “New York Forward” website, this includes “non-hair-related personal care businesses and services, including tattoo and piercing facilities, appearance enhancement practitioners, massage therapy, spas, cosmetology, nail specialty, UV and non-UV tanning, or waxing. This guidance does not apply to any hair-related personal care services (e.g. haircutting, coloring, or styling), which are addressed in “Interim COVID-19 Guidance for Hair Salons and Barbershops.”

Click here to download a copy of the guidelines for employers and employees.

√ In addition, Cuomo said public gatherings can increase from 10 to 25 people.

√ He also is allowing low-risk youth sports (baseball, softball, gymnastics, field hockey, cross country, crew) for regions in phase three to resume on July 6, with up to two spectators allowed per child.

Cuomo is currently using the “Percentage Positive Results By Region Dashboard” as a determinant to when regions can enter a new phase. This chart “includes the total daily number of COVID-19 tests conducted and, of those tests, how many were positive each day.”

Among the metrics:

  • Total Persons Tested: The number of tests of individuals performed on the test date. This total includes positives, negatives, and inconclusive results.
  • Total Tested Positive: The number of new persons tested positive for COVID-19 infection on the test date.
  • % Positive Results: Percentage of positive test results over the total tests performed.
  • % Positive Tests per Day (7-Day Rolling Avg): The average share of tests that are positive over the last seven days.

If Western New York remains at or about 1%, it is expected to enter phase four (arts, entertainment, recreation, education) on June 30.

Cuomo, on Tuesday, congratulated Western New York. A weighted antibody test revealed a lower number of positive coronavirus tests, in terms of percentage of population, than previously stated (down 2.8% to 3.2%)

Image courtesy of the Office of Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo

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