NEW YORK — Gov. Andrew Cuomo extended his state disaster emergency Thursday, though state regions may still begin phase 1 of reopening if they meet required criteria.
The initial order was set to expire on Friday, May 15.
In the new executive order, issued late Thursday, Cuomo extended New York On PAUSE until May 28, for regions that do not meet the criteria to begin reopening. The order also extended the governor’s emergency powers to June 13.
New York PAUSE applies to the temporary closing of businesses and limiting of social gatherings, among other things.
Though PAUSE has been extended, New York state regions may begin the reopening process if they are deemed eligible.
Five New York state regions will begin phase 1 of reopening Friday. Those are the Finger Lakes, Southern Tier, Mohawk Valley, North Country and Central New York. They’ve each met criteria allowing them to do so.
New York City and its surrounding areas have not yet met the criteria — 7 points determined by the state — but can begin phase 1 of opening if and when those criteria are met, even if that is before May 28.
“Any additional regions which meet the criteria after [May 14] will be deemed to be incorporated into this Executive Order without further revision and will be permitted to re-open phase one industries, subject to the same terms and conditions,” the order reads, meaning New Yorkers may not necessarily be under a stay-at-home order for the rest of the month.
Those criteria are listed here, along with information on each region and county.
Phase 1 includes the reopening of construction, manufacturing, wholesale trade, select retail businesses for curbside pickup only, agriculture, forestry and fishing.
Correction: This story has been updated clarifying the dates for New York On PAUSE, which limited social gatherings and temporarily closed businesses, and the state of emergency and enforcement period. It also removed reference to a “stay-at-home” order which may have been ambiguous.
