Coronavirus: Here Are New York's Essential Businesses

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — In a race to contain the spread of the new coronavirus, Gov. Andrew Cuomo ordered Friday that all "non-essential" businesses statewide must close their doors by 8 p.m. Sunday, with 100 percent of workers ordered to stay home.

New Yorkers are to stay home, working from home if they can. Exceptions include errands, emergencies and exercise. The number of confirmed cases in the state rose above 7,000 as of Friday, with an 18 percent hospitalization rate and 35 deaths.

Here's a list of what will remain open, according to state officials:

1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. News media
7. Financial Institutions including

• banks
• insurance
• payroll
• accounting
• services related to financial markets

8. 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

9. Construction including

• skilled trades such as electricians, plumbers
• other related construction firms and professionals for essential infrastructure or for emergency repair and safety purposes

10. Defense

• defense and national security-related operations supporting the U.S. Government or a contractor to the US government

11. 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

12. 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

If the function of your business is not listed above, but you believe that it is essential or it is an entity providing essential services or functions, you may request designation as an essential business, the state said.

Houses of worship are not ordered closed; however, it is strongly recommended no congregate services be held and social distance maintained, the order said.

Every business is strongly urged to maintain social distance to the extent possible, even if designated essential, the order added.

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

Restaurants, bars, gyms, movie theaters, casino, auditoriums, concerts, and others were ordered to close on Monday under the restrictions on any gathering with 50 or more participants; they must remain closed and are not eligible for designation as an essential business, the order said.

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