State of the State Address
This week, Governor Cuomo deviated from his traditional one-day State of the State address and instead, delivered his seven-point plan over the course of four days.
Click here to see press releases for the State of the State proposals.
Buffalo Bills’ Demo Program “Success”
“New York’s first-in-the-nation pilot plan to reopen Bills Stadium to fans went smoothly, and we’re pleased to be able to extend it to next week’s game,” Cuomo said in a statement.
Another 6,772 fans will be allowed to attend the second Buffalo Bills playoff game this Saturday, Governor Cuomo announced on Monday.
NY & Feds Expand COVID Vaccine Eligibility
On Tuesday, Governor Cuomo announced that New York State will follow the CDC’s new guidelines concerning eligibility for the COVID vaccine. The CDC’s guidance was updated on Tuesday to say that those 65 years old and older should get the vaccine, as well as those who are immunocompromised. Before this update, the CDC’s guidance and NYS’s distribution plan focused on those over 75 years of age and older and patient-facing health care workers.
According to Cuomo, by expanding the eligibility to include those 65 and older, it brings the total number of eligible people to 7 million in Phase I. The problem? New York is only getting 300,000 vaccine doses a week. At this rate, it will take 14 weeks to vaccinate this population.
NY Micro-Cluster Strategy
The Micro-Cluster Strategy identifies clusters and the areas around them and categorizes them into one or more color-coded zones with corresponding levels of restrictions based on severity: Red Zones, Orange Zones, and Yellow Zones. New rules and restrictions directly target areas with the highest transmission of COVID-19 cases & surrounding communities.
Click here to view the restrictions and check your address.
As a reminder, the Presidential proclamation from March 11 and March 14th, 2020 suspends entry into the United States of people who were physically present in any of the 26 countries that make up the Schengen Area within the 14 days preceding their entry or attempted entry into the United States. The Schengen Area consists of Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. As of March 14, this applies to the United Kingdom and Ireland, too.
Travelers entering NY from the United Kingdom must produce a negative test prior to boarding flights on British Airways, Delta Airlines, and Virgin Atlantic.
Under Executive Order, New York has implemented a COVID testing requirement for those entering/re-entering NY from other states and from countries at Level 2 and 3 COVID-risk.
According to the Order, instead of a mandatory 14-day quarantine, all people* entering NY will have to bring proof of a negative COVID test. The results must be from a test taken within three days of coming into NY from a non-contiguous state.** Upon arrival, all travelers must quarantine for three days. On the fourth day, the traveler must get another test. Once the second test comes back negative, the person is no longer required to quarantine.
*Essential workers will continue to be exempt from this mandate.
**These new rules do not apply to PA, NJ, VA, MA, or CT, although non-essential travel is highly discouraged.