Governor Cuomo rolls out ‘New York Forward’

At a press conference in late April, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo gave the first glimpses of his vision for letting nonessential businesses resume regular operations. Later, on May 4, 2020, he announced his plan for a phased reopening of the state, titled “New York Forward.” Read on to understand when your company may reopen and what you’ll be expected to do in the COVID-19 era.

Background

In mid-March 2020, Governor Cuomo effectively shut down New York, the pandemic’s epicenter, with a series of “executive orders,” one of which prohibited employees of “nonessential” businesses from performing in-person labor at the workplace. Even essential businesses and public employers were required to reduce the number of employees at the workplace. His “New York State on Pause” policy solidified the “stay-at-home” limitations placed on most New Yorkers.

Following the recommendations of President Trump’s COVID-19 task force to reopen America on a phased, data-driven approach, Governor Cuomo has laid out his vision for restarting the state.

What reopening plan contains