STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — If New York Metropolis’s coronavirus (COVID-19) positivity charge rises, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday that the Big Apple will become an orange zone, which means a host of businesses — from gyms to nail salons — will shutter indefinitely.
At a press briefing on Wednesday, the governor known as the present rise in coronavirus instances – each within the state and across the nation – a “COVID spiral.”
He stated that the approaching chilly climate and holidays, mixed with “COVID fatigue,” are driving unfold of the illness, significantly in “locations that haven’t but skilled painful actuality.”
Orange zone restrictions embrace:
- Companies thought of to be high-risk should stay closed;
- Indoor eating will stop;
- Out of doors eating is permitted with a four-person desk most;
- Closure of private and non-private faculties to in-person studying until all workers and college students obtain a COVID-19 take a look at after which 25% of the varsity inhabitants is examined weekly;
- Worship providers restricted to 33% capability with a most of 25 folks;
- Mass gatherings, each indoor and outside, are capped at 10 folks.
NON-ESSENTIAL BUSINESSES THAT WOULD CLOSE
In accordance with Cuomo’s government order, “non-essential companies” — these which are thought of “the next threat related to the transmission of the COVID-19 virus” — embrace gyms, health facilities, barbers, hair salons, spas, tattoo and piercing parlors, nail technicians and nail salons, cosmetologists, estheticians and laser hair removing and electrolysis firms.
“What comes after a yellow zone? An orange zone. Yellow is 2.5[%], orange is at 3[%]. New York Metropolis might go to an orange zone if it hits 3%,” stated Cuomo on Wednesday.
Though Cuomo stated the town’s positivity charge is at 2.5%, de Blasio, who shuttered public schools in New York city this week, says the Big Apple has already reached 3%.
When requested why the town and state have totally different coronavirus numbers, de Blasio defined on Wednesday that the town counts optimistic coronavirus instances based mostly on the day the take a look at was taken, not when the testing outcome arrived.
“Three is the following demarcation to turn into an orange zone. What occurs at 3%? Homes of worship, mass gatherings, enterprise restrictions, eating restrictions, faculties shut,” Cuomo stated.
And Staten Island enterprise homeowners who must shutter as soon as once more aren’t completely satisfied.
GYMS
New York Metropolis-based gyms, that are nonetheless not permitted to have indoor courses, had been solely in a position to reopen at reduced capacity in September.
“If gyms should shut, not solely will it cripple the health business and small companies alike, however extra so devastating to New Yorkers who depend on health for well being functions,” stated Chris Pacifico, who owns Crunch Health in St. George and simply opened a 32,000-square-foot Crunch fitness center in the former New York Sports Club house in Travis that shuttered in the course of the pandemic.
“Gyms are a part of the answer, not a part of the issue. We’re important,” he added, citing a New York State Fitness Alliance survey that deemed New York gyms secure.
Pacifico, like many different fitness center homeowners, stated he has many security precautions in place, together with the MERV-13 air filters really useful by the state.
Carlo Lasorsa, co-owner in Intoxx Health, which has three Staten Island places.
Mentioned Carlo Lasorsa, co-owner of Intoxx Fitness, which has three Staten Island places: “We now have no downside closing once more if they will present me the info that states gyms are inflicting the spike. With out proof, that is an emotional response with no grounds to decide on gyms as the issue.”
HAIR/NAIL SALONS
And hair and nail salon homeowners, a lot of whom spent some huge cash reinventing their salons to adapt with coronavirus mandates, stated they worry having to shut once more — particularly across the holidays when providers are in excessive demand. Hair salons had been in a position to reopen in late June during Phase 2, and nail salons reopened in Phase 3 in July.
Numerous security measures, from hand sanitizer to plexiglass boundaries, are in place at Leelee’s Nails on Richmond Highway. (Courtesy of Leelee Woon)
“Enterprise already received damage from closing earlier than. …We put some huge cash into reopening. Employees returning to work are asking for larger salaries,” stated Leelee Woon, proprietor of Leelee’s Nails on Richmond Road.
“We attempt our greatest to observe all protections, particularly me. … The ache from closing the enterprise once more will likely be worse than my chemo remedy. …We already make no revenue. …I actually really feel dangerous loads of companies are closing. I hope I can maintain on,” added Woon, who was recognized with ovarian most cancers amid the pandemic.
Kim Barbagallo, proprietor of Fringe: The Artwork of Hair in Castleton Corners, stated she has been involved since Staten Island turned a yellow zone.
“I simply hope we’re in a position to make it by way of December, as a result of that is our busy season, and contemplating the 12 months all of us had we actually should be open till not less than finish of December,” she stated.
“I additionally want it will be on extra of a person foundation, as a result of I’m very strict with my guidelines and have continued to be strict, and have had zero incident. I do know some locations which have gotten lax, however I don’t assume it’s honest to the companies which have been diligent,” added Barbagallo.
Kim Barbagallo, proprietor of Fringe: The Artwork of Hair in Castleton Corners, stated she has been involved since Staten Island turned a yellow zone. (Courtesy of Kim Barbagallo)
TATTOO PARLORS
After being closed for thus lengthy and tattoos being a “luxurious” expertise many individuals can’t afford if they’re unemployed, tattoo store homeowners say in addition they worry a second closure. Tattoo shops were allowed to reopen during New York City’s Phase 3.
“The considered closing my enterprise once more is terrifying. I fear that it’s going to final even longer than the final shut down, and it’s exhausting to say what that may imply for companies sooner or later in addition to what sort of cash will likely be out there for luxurious spending for my purchasers as soon as we might reopen,” stated Magie Serpica, co-owner of Milk and Honey Tattoo Parlour, West Brighton.
Magie Serpica, co-owner of Milk and Honey Tattoo Parlour, West Brighton, stated she fears she should shut once more.
Mentioned Frank Russo, proprietor of Ink Couture in Pleasant Plains, “Since March I’ve been saying that is the 12 months of no logic.”
Tattoo Artist Andrew Russo works on a consumer at Ink Couture in Nice Plains, which reopened in Section 3. (Courtesy of Frank Russo)
