New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's office released a list of those businesses considered essential while an executive order designed to limit the spread of COVID-19 is in effect. Businesses not on the list must arrange for all of their employees to work from home or cease operation by 8 p.m. Sunday or face fines.
The state divided the list of businesses allowed to remain open into 12 categories.
These are:
● Essential health care and pharmacies
● Infrastructure, gas stations
● Limited manufacturing and building materials
● Food, beverage, takeout, farmers markets
● Essential services, including, waste pickup, mail and shipping, laundromats, child care, auto repair, and animal shelters
● Banks, insurance, and accounting
● Food pantries, homeless shelters, patient care
● Construction and critical repairs, cleaning and maintenance
● Defense and national security
● Law enforcement, fire response, building-code enforcement
● Logistics, information technology, government vendors
● News media
Houses of worship were not ordered closed, but the governor's office strongly recommended that no services be held and adequate social distance be maintained.
Entities that provide essential services must put in place rules that help facilitate social distancing of at least six feet.
Businesses not on the list can request special designation as essential from Empire State Development.