Latimer Talks Phase 2 & 3 – Wrinkle in Restaurant Plans?

Latimer Talks Phase 2 & 3 – Wrinkle in Restaurant Plans? Almost 50,000 COVID tests were conducted statewide on Sunday with less than 1,000 new positive cases bringing NY’s new infection rate to about 2% – a new low. In contrast on April 14, the state’s peak day for new COVID cases,11,571 people tested positive. Forty-three percent of the 26,869 people tested on that day.

Against the backdrop of this good news, five of seven New York Regions entered Phase 2 of the NY Forward Plan over the weekend. And Governor Andrew Cuomo announced today that the Western New York Region (Buffalo) will enter Phase 2 on Tuesday, June 2. And the Capital District region is expected to enter Phase 2 on Wednesday. Cuomo also announced that Dentist offices in all regions can reopen today.

Latimer’s Guidance for Westchester Phase 2 & 3 Reopening

Meanwhile, County Executive George Latimer told the Armonk Chamber of Commerce last Thursday that, assuming the current trajectory continues, Westchester County would be cleared for Phase 2 of the NY Forward reopening plan on June 9. And Phase 3 would be cleared by June 23. Both of these dates are set back one week from previous expectations that Latimer raised with the Chamber several weeks ago.

Phase 2 of the New York Forward Plan would open up full economic activity for retail, professional services, administrative support, real estate and rental & leasing. Phase 3 of the plan, that would reopen all restaurants and food services, is expected by June 23.

The push to move Restaurant Outdoor Dining to Phase 2

However, Latimer told the Chamber that there is some discussion about potentially moving up that June 23 date for outdoor seating only at restaurants. Connecticut reopened outdoor seating at restaurants on May 20. Restaurant owners in New Jersey are pressuring state leaders to do the same. The New Jersey Restaurant and Hospitality Association has submitted guidelines detailing how restaurants would operate outdoor services under such a move. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy is expected to announce his plan to reopen outdoor dining in restaurants today.

The National Restaurant Association has issued extensive COVID-19 Reopening Guidelines to provide a template for all restaurant owners. The guidelines offer step-by-step practices to follow all food safety, cleaning and sanitizing, employee health monitoring and personal hygiene, and social distancing guidelines. The NYRA recommendations complement existing state and local regulations. They are meant to be used in conjunction with the FDA Food Code requirements. And all guidance the CDC, FDA, and state and local health officials are requiring as the states begin to reopen their economies.

The New York State Restaurant Association (NYSRA) which is also lobbying to have outdoor dining moved into the Phase 2 plan has released a Safety Promise. The document outlines a pledge to follow all distancing guidelines and to administer health checks to staff prior to their shifts. Plus, a detailed sanitization plan that includes sanitizing all surfaces, utensils, place settings and condiments on a single use basis. The plan also calls for providing customers with hand sanitizers at all entrances.