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What You Need to Know About COVID-19

NYC: Get Tested Now!

All New Yorkers should get tested for COVID-19, whether or not you have symptoms or are at increased risk.

NYC Health Department: coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)

What to Do If You Are Sick

Find the closest testing site near you.

You should get tested now if you have symptoms – regardless of age, chronic conditions or occupation – and then stay home.

COVID-19 Symptoms

People with COVID-19 have reported a wide range of symptoms. Symptoms may appear two to 14 days after exposure to the virus and commonly include:

  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Fever
  • Sore throat
  • New loss of taste or smell

This list is not all inclusive. Other less common symptoms have been reported, including gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. Older adults may show confusion or disorientation and experience falls.

Featured Announcements

The COVID-19 vaccine is here: SAFE. FREE. EASY.

Currently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized two COVID-19 vaccines: the Pfizer-BioNTech and the Moderna vaccines. The vaccine can prevent COVID-19 symptoms and severe COVID-19 illness.

The Pfizer/BioN-Tech and Moderna vaccines are available to healthcare workers, people 65 and older, and a growing range of frontline essential workers and at-risk New Yorkers. When there are enough vaccine doses available, it will be made available to all New Yorkers.

Learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine.
Learn more about who is currently eligible for vaccination.

Indoor dining reopening

On Friday, February 12, restaurants and bars were allowed to reopen indoor dining at 25% capacity. On Friday, February 26, that capacity will increase to 35%.

Restaurants and bars are required to close indoor and outdoor dining from 11 PM to 5 AM daily. Takeout and delivery are still allowed after 11 PM, except for alcoholic beverages. Learn more about NY State guidance for reopening indoor dining.

Reopening theaters & billiard/pool halls

As of Friday, March 5, movie theaters and billiard/pool halls will be allowed to reopen in NYC. Guidelines for each industry are as follows:

Movie theaters

  • Venues are restricted to 25 percent capacity, with no more than 50 people per screen at a time.
  • Masks will be required at all times except when seated and eating or drinking.
  • Assigned seating will be required in all theaters.
  • Social distancing between parties will be required at all times.
  • Additional staffing will be required to control occupancy, traffic and seating to ensure compliance.
  • Enhanced air filtration, ventilation and purification standards must be met by theaters.
  • This action brings New York City movie theaters in line with movie theaters throughout the rest of the state.

Billiard/pool halls

  • Halls are restricted to 50 percent capacity outside of New York City; 35 percent capacity in New York City.
  • Masks will be required at all times except when seated and eating or drinking.
  • Mandatory social distancing must be enforced, or physical barriers between parties of patrons/players must be installed.
  • Each party must be assigned to a table to avoid comingling.
  • Staff must rigorously clean and disinfect any rented or shared equipment between use.

Reopening NYC public school buildings

Public school buildings have begun reopening in phases for in-person learning.

  • 3-K, Pre-K, and elementary schools reopened on Monday, December 7th. Schools in orange COVID-19 zones reopened on Wednesday, December 9th.
  • District 75 schools (all grades), including schools in orange COVID-19 zones, reopened on Thursday, December 10th.
  • Students in grades 6 through 8 will resume in-person learning beginning Thursday, February 25.
  • Students in grades 9 through 12 (other than those in District 75 schools) will continue to learn remotely until further notice.

Your child's school will contact you with your child's specific in-person schedule.

In order for your child to return to in-person learning, you must submit the consent form for in-school COVID-19 testing. Mandatory in-school testing will happen weekly for a random selection of staff and students in all reopened school buildings. Exemptions will be granted only in certain limited cases.

Learn more about school buildings reopening.

The Learning Bridges Program remain open.

Get more information and learn about resources for NYC school students.

If you have questions or concerns about your child's school or learning schedule, contact the school directly. For contact information, use the schools.nyc.gov School Finder.

What You Need to Know About New York City's Localized Restriction

COVID-19 continues to spread in New York City (NYC) with concerning increases in community transmission in certain neighborhoods. NYC is taking action by implementing restrictions in three zones identified by the State — red, orange, yellow. Find out if you are in a Covid-19 Hotspot Zone.

Red Zone

Schools:All New York City public schools and nonpublic schools must close and return to full remote learning.

Businesses: All nonessential businesses are required to close. Only essential businesses as designated by New York State Empire State Development Corporation can remain open.

Food Service Establishments: Restaurants, bars, cafes and other food service establishments can provide takeout and delivery service only. No indoor or outdoor dining is allowed.

Houses of Worship: Houses of worship may remain open at 25% capacity, up to a maximum of 10 people, whichever is fewer.

Gatherings: Non-essential gatherings of any size are prohibited and must be postponed or cancelled. Any individual who encourages, promotes or organizes mass gatherings may be fined up to $15,000/day.

Orange Zone

Schools: All New York City public schools and nonpublic schools must close and return to full remote learning.

Businesses: Businesses including gyms and fitness centers, and personal care services, including barbers, hair salons, spas, tattoo or piercing parlors, nail technicians and nail salons, cosmetologists, estheticians, the provision of laser hair removal and electrolysis, etc. must close.

Food Service Establishments: Restaurants, bars, cafes and other food service establishments can provide outdoor dining and takeout and delivery service only. There is a four-person maximum per table. No indoor dining is allowed.

Houses of Worship: Houses of worship may remain open at 33% capacity, up to a maximum of 25 people, whichever is fewer.

Gatherings: Non-essential gatherings must be limited to no more than 10 people for both indoor and outdoor settings. Any individual who encourages, promotes or organizes mass gatherings may be fined up to $15,000/day.

Yellow Zone

Schools: All New York City public schools and nonpublic schools may remain open. Testing guidance will be issued by New York State on Friday, 10/9/2020.

Businesses: All businesses may remain open but must follow COVID-19 requirements for their sector.

Food Service Establishments: Indoor and outdoor dining is allowed. There is a four-person maximum per table.

Houses of Worship: Houses of worship may remain open at 50% maximum capacity.

Gatherings: Non-essential gatherings must be limited to 25 people maximum for both indoor and outdoor settings. Any individual who encourages, promotes or organizes mass gatherings may be fined up to $15,000/day.

Restart NYC – Guidance for Phase Four

The City entered Phase Four of Restart NYC on July 20. This phase includes reopening for low-risk outdoor arts & entertainment, media production, and professional sports competitions with no fans. The date for higher education, Pre-K to grade 12 schools, low-risk indoor arts & entertainment, and malls have not yet been determined.

Below is Phase Four guidance for the following:

Restart NYC – Guidance for businesses under Phase Three

NYC entered Phase Three of Restart NYC on July 6th. Businesses that may start operations in Phase Three include personal care services such as tattoo and piercing parlors, appearance enhancement practices, massage therapy practices, spas, cosmetology salons, nail salons, tanning salons, and waxing salons. Indoor dining will no longer be available in Phase Three.

Learn what your business needs to know to prepare for reopening.

For additional information on Phase Three reopening guidelines, click here.

Restart NYC – Guidance for businesses under Phase Two

NYC entered Phase Two of Restart NYC on June 22. Businesses that may start or expand operations included: offices, in-store retail, outdoor dining, hair salons and barbershops, real estate, commercial building management, and retail rental, repair and cleaning, vehicle sales, leases, and rentals. Learn what your business needs to know to prepare for reopening.

For additional information on Phase Two reopening guidelines click here.

Restart NYC – Guidance for businesses under Phase One

NYC entered Phase One of Restart NYC on June 8. Businesses that may start to reopen or expand operations included: retail, construction, manufacturing and wholesale trade. Although you can reopen your worksite, the best way to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and protect employees is to continue working from home as much as possible.

For a Phase 1 reopening fact sheet for employers and workers click here.

For additional information on guidelines click here.

Expanded COVID-19 testing

All New Yorkers should get tested now, whether or not you have symptoms or are at increased risk. There are over 150 convenient testing sites across the city. Find a testing site near you by visiting nyc.gov/covidtest.

COVID-19 NYC Data

You can find daily updates of information about people who have tested positive for COVID-19 in NYC and key public health milestones.