A Road Map to Reopening: Looking Toward Your Businesses' Next Step Webinar
Join me and Assemblymember Patricia A. Fahy tomorrow at 11 a.m.for 'A Road Map to Reopening: Looking Toward Your Businesses' Next Step'
Along with the Capital Region Chamber, UpState New York Black Chamber of Commerce and Rensselaer County Regional Chamber of Commerce we will discuss protocols and procedures that local businesses and other organizations might consider as they look toward a healthy, sustainable return to business.
Zoom Meeting ID: 858 9500 9187
Guidance and Phased in Reopening Plan
Governor Cuomo outlined additional guidelines for when regions can re-open. The state will monitor four core factors to determine if a region can re-open:
New Infections
Health Care Capacity
Diagnostic Testing Capacity
Contact Tracing Capacity
He also announced that the phase in process will come in four waves. Phase 1 includes construction, manufacturing and select retail (with curbside pickup). Phase 2 includes professional services, finance and insurance, retail, administrative support and real estate/rental leasing. Phase 3 includes restaurants, food services and hotels. And Phase 4 includes arts, entertainment, recreation and education.
Upon reopening, businesses must implement new safety precautions. These include strict cleaning and sanitation standards, restricting nonessential travel, adapting the workplace to allow for social distancing, and requiring masks to be worn if employees are in frequent contact with the public.
Capital Region Re-Opening Leadership Letter
Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan and I along with many of our other Capital Region colleagues,sent a letterto the Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to respectfully ask that we utilize our current REDC co-chairs to lead the reopening effort for the Capital Region.
The Capital Region REDC has the trust and respect of elected officials, the business community and arts and community-based organizations across the region. Co-chairs Ruth Mahoney and Dr. Havidan Rodriguez have the ability to convene leaders and ensure that we have a successful reopening plan.
Having this designated leadership team in place would give our local businesses and other organizations direction as they look toward a healthy, sustainable return to business.
Health Insurance Special Enrollment Period Extended
The special enrollment period for health insurance will remain open through June 15, 2020. New Yorkers without health insurance can apply for a plan throughNY State of Health.
National Grid Scam Warning
National Grid is warning customers to beware of a new phone scam where impostors are demanding immediate bill payment and threatening service disconnection. This latest scam, which is targeting customers already facing hardships due to COVID-19, involves callers who pretend to be National Grid representatives. They tell customers that unless payment is made within 30 minutes, their power will be shut off. The customer is then directed to call the direct billing department to make a payment and avoid power disconnection.
National Grid reminds customers that on March 13, the company temporarily suspended collections-related activities, including service disconnections, to lessen any financial hardship brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Read more on how to protect yourself from these scams here:https://www.nationalgridus.com/Our-Company/Scam-Alert