See below for information and guidance for businesses on reopening. As official guidance is rapidly evolving, we will be updating this page frequently, so please be sure to check back often.

When can businesses begin to reopen?

New York State has developed a set of metrics that regions of the state must meet before reopening. Click here to NY State’s reopening metrics dashboard. As of mid-May, New York City meets 4 of the 7 requirements for reopening.

Once NYC meets all of the reopening requirements, the city will begin to reopen in phases. Phase 1 allows for the reopening of construction and some retail (limited to curbside or in-store pickup or drop-off). Phase 2 allows for the reopening of professional services, in-store retail, real estate services, and administrative office workers. Phase 3 allows for the reopening of dine-in service at restaurants. And Phase 4 allows for the reopening of schools and entertainment and cultural venues.

For help determining whether or not your business is eligible to reopen, use NY State’s reopening lookup tool.

How can businesses reopen safely?

Each reopening business must develop a written Safety Plan outlining how its workplace will prevent the spread of COVID-19. A business may fill out this template to fulfill the requirement, or may develop its own Safety Plan. This plan does not need to be submitted to a state agency for approval but must be retained on the premises of the business and must made available to the New York State Department of Health (DOH) or local health or safety authorities in the event of an inspection.

Visit forward.ny.gov for industry specific reopening guidelines. Also, read OSHA’s guidelines for preparing workplaces for COVID-19, the International Council of Shopping Center’s Reopening Best Practices guide, and the CDC’s guidance on cleaning and disinfecting workplaces.

Visit Empire State Development’s website for frequently asked questions on how the New York Forward re-opening plan impacts your business.