New York City Phase II Reopening Guidelines and Updates

By Síle Moloney

A hairdressing salon on Bainbridge Avenue in the Bronx was open well before 9:00 a.m. on Monday, June 22nd 2020, as New York City enters Phase II of the State’s Reopening Plan.
Photo by Síle Moloney

The City entered Phase Two of the State’s Reopening Plan on Monday, June 22, 2020. During this phase, the following industries were allowed to resume:

Commercial Building Management
Hair Salons & Barbershops
Outdoor and Take-Out/Delivery Food Services
Offices
Real Estate Services
In-Store Retail
Vehicle Sales
Retail Rental, Repair & Cleaning

Businesses which fall under these industry sectors must affirm to have read and understood the State-issued guidelines relating to reopening. Businesses that are unclear about reopening during Phase Two can use this tool to check. The guidelines and requirements may change, so businesses are asked to check the New York Forward site regularly for updates.

Where businesses have questions about reopening, they can be sent to the City via the hotline on 888-SBS-4NYC (888-727-4692). Additionally, nycsmallbizcourses.eventbrite.com can also be used to access reopening guides. Businesses can search the link using the word “reopening” to sign up for webinars in order to learn about State requirements, recommendations, and resources available to help businesses reopen in New York City.

Expanded Use of Outdoor Space

As the City enters Phase Two, restaurants can open for table service in outdoor areas only. “Outdoor space” is an open-air space without a fixed roof. Outdoor spaces may include yards, tables and chairs on the sidewalk or street or other public areas, or other outdoor areas on premises.

Restaurants with access to privately-owned outdoor space may open in this space, as long as they follow the appropriate NYS and NYC health guidance.

Open Restaurants Program

NYC’s Open Restaurants Program is an effort to implement a citywide multi-phase program to expand outdoor seating options for restaurants and bars to promote open space, enhance social distancing, and help them rebound.

Qualifying restaurants and bars will be able to expand outdoor seating (on a temporary basis) to sidewalks, curb lanes, backyards, patios, plazas, and Open Streets as New York City begins Phase Two of reopening.

This application is only for restaurants and bars seeking permission to place outdoor seating in front of their establishment on the sidewalk and/or roadway. Residents do not need to apply to place outdoor seating on private property. To speed up the approval process, NYC is allowing restaurants and bars to self-certify that they meet program requirements.

Meanwhile, Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued updated guidance for food and beverage establishments effective immediately. The announcement can be watched here.

Under this guidance, businesses selling or serving alcohol to be consumed at the business or elsewhere must ensure that everyone within 100 feet of their business is:

in compliance with open-container, social-distancing, and face-covering rules; and
following all existing rules, regulations, and laws.

Businesses that cannot follow these guidelines must stop selling alcohol until they can. Violations could result in having a license suspended or revoked, with fines of up to $10,000 per violation. Patrons can also be fined for breaking open container or social distancing rules.

For more information about reopening in Phase One or Two, businesses can visit nyc.gov/business.

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Welcome to the Norwood News, a bi-weekly community newspaper that primarily serves the northwest Bronx communities of Norwood, Bedford Park, Fordham and University Heights. Through our Breaking Bronx blog, we focus on news and information for those neighborhoods, but aim to cover as much Bronx-related news as possible. Founded in 1988 by Mosholu Preservation Corporation, a not-for-profit affiliate of Montefiore Medical Center, the Norwood News began as a monthly and grew to a bi-weekly in 1994. In September 2003 the paper expanded to cover University Heights and now covers all the neighborhoods of Community District 7. The Norwood News exists to foster communication among citizens and organizations and to be a tool for neighborhood development efforts. The Norwood News runs the Bronx Youth Journalism Heard, a journalism training program for Bronx high school students. As you navigate this website, please let us know if you discover any glitches or if you have any suggestions. We’d love to hear from you. You can send e-mails to norwoodnews@norwoodnews.org or call us anytime (718) 324-4998.