Gov. Cuomo Orders Nonessential Businesses to Keep All of Their Workers Home

Learn if your business is considered essential under this new COVID-19 law.

By
Kaaryn Simmons (Columbia-Harlem SBDC)
March 20, 2020

Earlier today, Governor Cuomo ordered nonessential businesses to keep all of their workers home, under Executive Order 202.6. 

Essential Businesses include:

  • Essential Health Care Operations
  • Essential Infrastructure, Essential Manufacturing
  • Essential Retail
  • Essential Service
  • News Media
  • Financial Institutions
  • Providers of Basic Necessities to economically disadvantaged populations
  • Construction
  • Defense
  • Essential services necessary to maintain the safety, sanitation and essential operations of residences or other businesses
  • Vendors that provide essential services or products including logistics and technology support, child care and services needed to ensure the continuing operation of government agencies and provide for the health, safety and welfare of the public

Complete details can be found here.

Requests by businesses to be designated an essential function as described above, should only be made if they are NOT covered by the guidance. To request designation as an essential business, please click here.

Restrictions on requesting designation as an essential business:

  • Any business that only has a single occupant/employee (i.e. gas station) has been deemed exempt and need not submit a request to be designated as an essential business.
  • Businesses ordered to close on Monday, March 15, 2020 under the restrictions on any gathering with 500 or more participants, including but not limited to, bars, restaurants, gyms, movie theaters, casinos, auditoriums, concerts, conferences, worship services, sporting events, and physical fitness centers, are presumed to be compliant with NYS issued restrictions and must remain closed and are not eligible for designation as an essential business for purposes of this guidance. 

For more information visit the NYC ESD website. Have questions or need advice? Schedule an appointment to meet (virtually) with a Columbia-Harlem SBDC Business Advisor.

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