A researcher in the Virology Laboratory at New York State Department of Health’s Wadworth Center prepares samples of COVID-19 for testing.
Governor Andrew Cuomo on Friday announced he is signing the “New York State on PAUSE” executive order, which, among other things, closes all non-essential businesses statewide effective 8 p.m. Sunday, March 22. For the purpose of the executive order, an essential business is one of the following, arranged by category:
Essential health care operations, including:
- research and laboratory services
- hospitals
- walk-in-care health facilities
- emergency veterinary and livestock services
- elder care
- medical wholesale and distribution
- home health care workers or aides for the elderly
- doctor and emergency dental
- nursing homes, or residential health care facilities or congregate care facilities
- medical supplies and equipment manufacturers and providers
Essential infrastructure, including:
- utilities including power generation, fuel supply and transmission
- public water and wastewater
- telecommunications and data centers
- airports/airlines
- transportation infrastructure such as bus, rail, or for-hire vehicles, garages
- hotels, and places of accommodation
Essential manufacturing, including:
- food processing, manufacturing agents, including all foods and beverages
- chemicals
- medical equipment/instruments
- pharmaceuticals
- sanitary products
- telecommunications
- microelectronics/semi-conductor
- agriculture/farms
- household paper products
Essential retail, including:
- grocery stores including all food and beverage stores
- pharmacies
- convenience stores
- farmer’s markets
- gas stations
- restaurants/bars (but only for take-out/delivery)
- hardware and building material stores
Essential services, including:
- trash and recycling collection, processing and disposal
- mail and shipping services
- laundromats
- building cleaning and maintenance
- child care services
- auto repair
- warehouse/distribution and fulfillment
- funeral homes, crematoriums and cemeteries
- storage for essential businesses
- animal shelters
Financial institutions, including:
- banks
- insurance
- payroll
- accounting
- services related to financial markets
Providers of basic necessities to economically disadvantaged populations, including:
- homeless shelters and congregate care facilities
- food banks
- human services providers whose function includes the direct care of patients in state-licensed or funded voluntary programs; the care, protection, custody and oversight of individuals both in the community and in state-licensed residential facilities; those operating community
- shelters and other critical human services agencies providing direct care or support
Construction, including:
- skilled trades such as electricians and plumbers
- other related construction firms and professionals for essential infrastructure or for emergency repair and safety purposes
Defense
- defense and national security-related operations supporting the U.S. Government or a contractor to the US government
Essential services necessary to maintain the safety, sanitation and essential operations of residences or other essential businesses, including:
- law enforcement
- fire prevention and response
- building code enforcement
- security
- emergency management and response
- building cleaners or janitors
- general maintenance whether employed by the entity directly or a vendor
- automotive repair
- disinfection
Vendors that provide essential services or products, including logistics and technology support, child care and services:
- logistics
- technology support for online services
- child care programs and services
- government owned or leased buildings
- essential government services
