COVID-19 Guidance for Business Owners and FAQs

• Essential healthcare operations
• Essential infrastructure
• Essential manufacturing
• Essential retail (grocery stores, pharmacies, farmer's markets, gas stations, restaurants/bars for take out and delivery, hardware, pet food, and more)
• Essential services, including laundromats, childcare, auto repair, funeral homes, bicycle repair, animal shelters and animal services
• News media
• Financial Institutions
• Providers of basic necessities to economically disadvantaged populations
• Construction (all non-essential construction must safely shut down, except emergency construction – details on essential construction can be found here)
• Defense
• Essential services necessary to maintain the safety, sanitation, and essential operations of residences or other businesses
• Vendors that provide essential services or products, including childcare
• Recreation (parks and other open public spaces, but not playgrounds, golf courses, or boat launches and marinas)
• Professional services with extensive restrictions

Find the full, expanded list of essential businesses here.

If you think your business is essential but is not included here, you may apply for Essential Business Designation.

• Have a contingency plan in place. Gather employee and supplier contact information, legal, insurance and financial records.
• Have hand sanitizer and tissues visibly available for employees and customers to use while in your place of business.
• Monitor your inventory. Make sure you have enough materials on hand and contact your suppliers to stay up to date on any changes in inventory needs or availability of supply.
• Contact your insurance company to determine if your insurance will cover expenses incurred, liability, or business interruption.
• Hang signage in your place of business with information on how to stay healthy. You can find signage here: nyc.gov/coronavirus
• Promote tap and pay to limit handling of cash and the use of touch screens.
• Use booking and scheduling to stagger office flow to comply with the new rules surrounding occupancy restrictions; read more about changes to capacity in the Mayor's press release
• Increase ventilation by opening windows and adjusting air conditioning units.
• Consider selling gift cards in person and online, if possible.
• Text COVID to 692-692 to receive regular coronavirus updates via text message. (Text COVIDESP to 692-692 to receive updates via text message in Spanish.)
• Follow general cleaning and disinfection guidance for non-health care settings. High-touch surfaces, such as food, deli and checkout counters, should be wiped down frequently with disinfectants.
• Discourage groups of people from congregating inside and at entrances.
  • Limit access to retail spaces when occupancy reaches 25% maximum capacity to minimize crowding and lines.
  • Manage lines inside and outside by keeping customers 6 feet apart. If space is limited, allow only one customer inside at a time.
  • Reduce unnecessary assembly of staff, such as large meetings. Use alternative methods to communicate information, such as bulletin boards or digital tools. Stagger break times, if possible.
• Require employees to practice healthy personal hygiene and to stay home if sick. Share the COVID-19 Factsheet available in multiple languages on the Health Department's website.
• Place alcohol-based hand sanitizers near the cash registers to encourage hand hygiene.
• Print and post Stop the Spread of Coronavirus Flyer available in multiple languages on the Health Department's website.
• Additional information about non-health care settings here.
• Read the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection's comprehensive document outlining updated Workplace Laws as NYC Seeks to Stop the Spread of the New Coronavirus

The following are examples of actions grocery stores have taken to maintain social distancing. These are only examples, and are not requirements.

1. Post signage on front doors of the store indicating how many people the store is allowing in at one time.
2. Post signage indicating people should wait in line outside the store if the store is at capacity.
3. Manage a line outside the store with tape demarcating 6 foot intervals; have an employee manage the number of people entering the store by the entry.
4. Add tape to the ground every 6 feet in a checkout line.
5. Place signs in produce area encouraging people to not touch and put back produce.
6. Limit the number of people who are shopping at one time.
7. Only using every other checkout station.
8. Have aisles be one-way in stores where practicable to maximize spacing between customers.
9. Install Plexiglas shields to separate employees from customers at checkout lines.
10. Discontinue all self-serve foods.
11. Sanitize credit card machines (including pen) regularly and consistently.
12. Sanitize cart and basket handles between uses (by staff).
13. Wherever possible, have employees wear gloves and face masks when interacting with customers and/or handling products.

• For businesses or other facilities that do not house people overnight, the CDC recommends closing off areas and waiting as long as is practical before beginning cleaning and disinfection to minimize potential for exposure to respiratory droplets. Open doors and windows to increase air circulation in the area.
• Staff should wear and use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) according to your existing policies and procedures.
• Have soap and paper towels in bathrooms at all times. Ensure that all hand washing sinks are in good state of repair.
• Use regular cleaning and disinfection products (e.g., Clorox, Purell, and peroxide products).
• Pay special attention to frequently touched surfaces like doorknobs, water fountains, and faucets.
• Learn more about the CDC's recommendations.
• Learn more about EPA-approved cleaning products.

Please note: The Department of Consumer and Worker Protection has declared facemasks, hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes temporarily in short supply to prevent stores from overcharging New Yorkers. The declaration makes it temporarily illegal to drastically increase prices. Stores found to be overcharging consumers will be issued a violation with a fine up to $500 per item. NYC DCWP encourages consumers who feel they were overcharged to file a complaint at nyc.gov/dcwp or by contacting 311.

Think about burglary prevention.

• Test your alarm
• Make sure cameras are functioning and can record for 30-60 days
• Change the combination of any safes
• Protect accessible windows with locks, security films, grilles, or bars
• Ensure all entrances are well-lit
• Secure and alarm roof openings
• Lock up or remove climbing aids (like ladders)
• Empty and lock your cash register
• Secure and lock sidewalk openings
• Find your local precinct

If you receive a phone call, email, or text message instructing you to purchase a prepaid merchant gift/debit card, cryptocurrency, or money order to pay any of the following, just hang up – it's a scam!

• Law enforcement for bail
• IRS for owed taxes
• Utility company to avoid service interruption
• Immigration officials to avoid deportation/arrest
• Social Security officials for fraudulent activity/warrant/arrest involving your Social Security number
• Ransom
• Hospital for emergency treatment of a loved one

• Encourage employees to get the flu vaccine — it's not too late. Employees can visit nyc.gov/flu or text FLU to 877877 for low- to no-cost vaccine locations.
• Encourage employees who are sick to stay home and seek medical care if needed. New Yorkers who do not have primary care providers can call 311 or visit nychealthandhospitals.org to find a provider.
• Employees should not go back to work until they have been fever-free for 72 hours without the use of fever reducing drugs like Tylenol or ibuprofen.
• Make sure your work policies are flexible and consistent with public health guidelines. Do not require a doctor's note for staff who are sick, as provider offices may be very busy. Allow your staff to stay home and care for family members who are sick.
• Emphasize and encourage healthy hygiene habits and etiquette. Put up posters encouraging staff to stay home when sick, to cover their coughs and sneezes with a tissue or their sleeve (not their hands), and to wash their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Consider making alcohol-based hand sanitizer available at your place of business.
• Provide tissues, no-touch trash cans, and hand sanitizer.
• Keep workspaces clean. Use cleaners with disinfectant to wipe down workstations, countertops, and doorknobs. Provide disposable wipes to your staff.

• If you are not already on a delivery platform, consider joining one or advertising phone orders on your social media channels.
• Offer contact-less delivery. If you or your customers prefer, you can offer to leave food just outside their doors instead of waiting for them to open the door for you.
• Follow NYC Health Code requirements for food preparation to prevent foodborne illness. No additional food protection protocols are required for COVID-19.
• Do not make deliveries if you are sick. You should be at home if you are sick.
• Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water or use hand sanitizer before and after each delivery.
• Practice social distancing, keeping 6 feet between you and others.
  • Ask customer before delivering food whether the food can be left at the door or with a doorman, if there is one.
  • In buildings with elevators, only get into a car where you can maintain a safe distance from others. Otherwise, wait for the next elevator. If possible, take the stairs.
• If you do interact with a customer, remember to wash hands or use hand sanitizer after every transaction.

Stay home and call your doctor. If you are experiencing any cold or flu-like symptoms — coughing, sneezing, fever, shortness of breath, sore throat — call your doctor. If you are not feeling better after 3 or 4 days and do not have any preexisting conditions, consult your doctor. If you are over 50 years of age and have preexisting conditions and you begin to feel symptoms, consult your doctor – they may want to monitor you more closely.

If you are an essential employee and have been authorized to continue to work out of your office, do not go back to work until you have been home for seven days and fever-free for 72 hours without the use of fever-reducing drugs like acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol) or ibuprofen (e.g., Advil).

Learn more: nyc.gov/coronavirus

As an employer, you should avoid sharing personal medical information of staff. Without providing identifying information, you may send a communication to staff that there has been a confirmed case, and the steps you are taking to sanitize the office and keep staff healthy. Make sure to continue to follow guidelines to keep workspaces clean, and encourage staff to practice good hygiene. If anyone feels sick, they should stay home and contact their healthcare provider. New Yorkers who do not have primary care providers can call 311 or visit nychealthandhospitals.org to find a provider. Hospital staff will not ask about immigration status and strict laws protect patient confidentiality.

People who do not show symptoms may still be able to spread COVID-19. A face covering can help prevent you from spreading COVID-19 to other people, so you should wear one whenever you leave the home.

A face covering can include anything that covers your nose and mouth, including dust masks, scarves and bandanas. Do not use health care worker masks, as those must be preserved for people in the health care system.

Even if you have a face covering, continue to stay home as much as possible and avoid close contact with other people. For more information, read NYC Health's Face Covering FAQs.

When adopting policies related to face coverings and social distancing, bars and restaurants must offer reasonable accommodations to customers with disabilities and should follow the guidance of the NYC Commission on Human Rights for Public Accommodations Protections.

The Mayor's Office of the Chief Technology Officer has created a toolkit to help businesses and individuals in NYC transition to working from home.

Consider signing up for Informed Delivery by USPS, a free service that allows you to digitally preview your mail and manage your packages scheduled to arrive soon. You can also check here to see if there are any mail outages in your area. FAQs about mail service can be found here.

Our Emergency Response Unit will work with you 1-on-1 to figure out the best way to get you the services you need, including making it easier to access deliveries - call (212) 618-8810.

We can also help you learn how to communicate any changes to your customers. View our full list of upcoming digital workshops to help you boost your marketing skills.

Download our outreach flyer here and help spread the word to other impacted businesses:

• ؟(Open Streets) ھل تأثر عملك بسبب برنامج
• আপনার ব􀒝বসা িক ওেপন ি􀏾টস 􀐵ারা 􀏕ভািবত হেয়িছল (Open Streets)?
• 您的生意受到街道开放（Open Streets）的影响了吗?
• 您的生意受到街道開放（Open Streets）的影響了嗎?
• Est-ce que votre entreprise a été affectée par l’ouverture des rues (Open Streets)?
• Eske Lari Ouvri (Open Streets) te afekte Biznis ou?
• Open Streets로 인해 사업에 영향을 받으셨습니까?
• Czy Twoja firma odczuwa trudności w związku z programem Open Streets?
• Повлияли на ваш бизнес Oткрытые улицы “(Open Streets)”?
• ¿El programa Open Streets afectó su negocio?
• کا اثر پڑا؟ Open Streets کیا آپ کے کاروبار پر

Scammers often take advantage of vulnerable people during times of crisis and distress. It is important that you be aware of any potential scams in order to protect yourself and your money. The NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection released guidance on how to recognize and prevent COVID-19 related scams: COVID-19 Scams and Safety Tips

Under the NYC Paid Safe and Sick Leave Law, employers with five or more employees who work more than 80 hours per calendar year in New York City must provide paid safe and sick leave to employees. Employers with fewer than five employees must provide unpaid safe and sick leave. Covered employees have the right to use safe and sick leave for the care and treatment of themselves or a family member. Employers and employees can visit nyc.gov/sbs or call 311 (212-NEW-YORK outside NYC) for more information.

On March 18, 2020, Governor Cuomo signed emergency legislation guaranteeing job protection and pay for New Yorkers who have been quarantined as a result of novel coronavirus, or COVID-19. Read more here.

While we hope that you do not have to reduce the number of people you employ, there is a layoff process that must be followed. If your private sector business has 50 or more employees, the NYS Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act requires 90 days notice before a plant closing, mass layoff, relocation, or other covered reduction in work hours. Notice must also be given when there is a layoff that affects either 33 percent of the workforce (at least 25 workers) or 250 workers from a single employment site. Learn more about the WARN Act.

The Shared Work Program gives you an alternative to laying off workers during business downturns by allowing them to work a reduced work schedule and collect partial Unemployment Insurance benefits for up to 26 weeks. Instead of cutting staff, you can reduce the number of hours of all employees or just a certain group. Learn more about the Shared Work Program here.

You can also visit the NYS Department of Labor website to learn more.

More resources for staff are available at nyc.gov/covid19wf1.

• Stay informed, listen to public health messages from reliable sources like the NYC Health Department or the CDC, and implement good personal and public health practices to prevent the spread of respiratory viruses.
• Avoid stigmatizing people who have recently traveled from any affected areas. There are a lot of things on social media and in the news that are not rooted in science and are offensive, demeaning and racist. You can report discrimination here.
• Learn more: nyc.gov/coronavirus

• Emotional reactions to stressful situations such as feeling sad, anxious or overwhelmed, or having trouble sleeping, or other symptoms of distress are normal. If you or your staff are feeling stressed or anxious, contact NYC Well at 888-NYCWELL (888-692-9355) or text WELL to 65173. NYC Well is a confidential help line that is staffed 24/7 by trained counselors who can provide brief supportive therapy, crisis counseling and connections to behavioral health treatment and support in more than 200 languages.
• If you feel you or your staff has been harassed due to race, nation of origin or other identities, you can report this to the NYC Commission on Human Rights by calling 311 or 718-722-3131.
• The Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes coordinates city efforts to prevent and respond to hate crimes. If you are the victim of a hate crime or witness what you believe to be a hate crime, please call 911 or visit your nearest police precinct. NYPD officers will not ask about the immigration status of anyone seeking emergency assistance or help to report a crime.

While New York City is still on PAUSE until May 28, 2020, at the earliest, it's not too early to prepare for our eventual and gradual reopening.

Each business or entity, including those that have been designated as essential under Empire State Development's Essential Business Guidance, must develop a written Safety Plan outlining how its workplace will prevent the spread of COVID-19. A business may fill out this template to fulfill the requirement, or may develop its own Safety Plan. This plan does not need to be submitted to a state agency for approval but must be retained on the premises of the business and must made available to the New York State Department of Health (DOH) or local health or safety authorities in the event of an inspection.

To be clear, New York City HAS NOT entered Phase I yet and businesses are still required to follow the Governor's and Mayor's executive orders.

While we are still on PAUSE, check out the recently-released reopening toolkit to make sure you're prepared.

Due to overwhelming interest in the NYC Business Continuity Loan Fund, we have paused application intake.

Note: The NYC Employee Retention Grant Program is no longer accepting applications.

If you would like to be updated about any new local, state or federal financial assistance programs that become available, please provide your information here.

Our NYC Business Solutions Center experts are available to help you identify additional financing available, including financing from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) or local philanthropic financing if you are a nonprofit.

We are offering daily webinars to help you learn about resources for small businesses in NYC impacted by COVID-19, including public and private funding opportunities.

View and download a copy of the presentation here:

• Resources for Small Businesses Impacted by COVID-19
• Recursos para pequeñas empresas afectadas por la COVID-19
• 相关资源受新冠肺炎 (COVID-19) 影响的小型企业
• موارد من أجل الشركات الصغيرة المتأثرة بأزمة كوفيد-19

بإمكانكم مشاهدة تسجيل عرضنا التقديمي لمساعدتكم على التعرف على المساعدات المتاحة للشركات الصغيرة في مدينة نيويورك المتأثرة بcovid-19

On May 22, Governor Cuomo announced the New York Forward Loan Fund, a new economic recovery loan program aimed at supporting New York State small businesses, nonprofits and small landlords as they reopen after the COVID-19 outbreak and NYS on PAUSE.

The NYFLF targets the state's small businesses with 20 or fewer full-time equivalent (FTE) employees (90% of all businesses), nonprofits and small landlords that have seen a loss of rental income. The NYFLF is specifically timed to support businesses and organizations as they proceed to reopen and have upfront expenses to comply with guidelines (e.g., inventory, marketing, refitting for new social distancing guidelines) under the New York Forward Plan.

Pre-applications for the New York Forward Loan Fund are now open. Priority will be given to industries and regions that have been reopened. This is not a first-come, first-served loan program. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis as regions and industries reopen. Businesses who have already received SBA funding through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) or the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) are not eligible.

If you have any questions or need help with your application, request assistance here.

We recommend that businesses interested in the PPP reach out to your business lender to understand any additional criteria they may require to qualify.

You should reach out to the SBA for guidance on how any other financial awards could impact your SBA award. If you have questions related to the SBA programs, find a local SBA resource partner.

Businesses can access free assistance to apply to the SBA loan products. We help businesses:

• Understand which loan is best suited for their needs
• Review and put together loan documents
• Calculate loan repayment terms
• Connect with multiple lenders – including banks, credit unions, non-profit lenders and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
• Prepare SBA loan forgiveness documents
• Understand loan payment deferment options

Learn more and request assistance here.

Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) & Advance

• A low-interest, fixed rate loan up to $10,000
• Can be used to pay immediate expenses during an emergency (payroll, bills/accounts payable, fixed debts)
• Advance of up to $10,000 awarded within three days of application, which can be used keep employees on payroll, to pay for sick leave, meet increased production costs, or pay business obligations
• See localized information here.
• At this time, only agricultural business applications will be accepted due to limitations in funding availability and the unprecedented submission of applications already received.

Paycheck Protection Program

• A low-interest, no fee, loan up to $10 million for small businesses, self-employed individuals, and others to help with cash flow and retain employees; if employers maintain payroll, a portion of the loan will be forgiven
• To apply, reach out to your existing bank and ask if they are a participating lender; if so, your bank can walk you through the application
• If your bank does not offer the program, reach out to a traditional SBA bank or contact your local SBA resource partners for more information
• See localized information here.
• Please note: If you use the proceeds from the NYC Small Business Continuity Loan Fund for payroll costs, it may compromise your ability to receive loan forgiveness from the SBA; please check with your local bank or SBA resource partner for guidance

SBA Express Bridge Loan

• Businesses with existing relationships with an SBA Express Lender can access up to $25,000 quickly. This loan can be used while applying for the EIDL loan
• This loan must be repaid in full or in part by proceeds from the EIDL loan

SBA Debt Relief

• As part of SBA's debt relief efforts the SBA will automatically pay the principal, interest, and fees of current 7(a), 504, and microloans for a period of six months
• The SBA will also automatically pay the principal, interest, and fees of new 7(a), 504, and microloans issued prior to September 27, 2020

Tip: Ask your lender or accountant about depositing any SBA funding into a separate business banking account. They may recommend doing so, and using that account to only pay for eligible expenses outlined by the SBA, which include: payroll, mortgage interest, rent, utilities, retirement benefits, and health insurance. Separating out your SBA funds from other sources of income may help you more easily prove compliance and enable forgiveness of these loans.

More information on the SBA's Coronavirus (COVID-19) Small Business Guidance & Loan Resources here.

View a comparison of these programs here.

Through its Neighborhood Entrepreneur Law Project (NELP), the City Bar Justice Center (CBJC)'s COVID-19 Small Business Remote Legal Clinic (the CV-19 Clinic) will offer pro bono legal consultations to help entrepreneurs in New York City determine the best path forward for their small businesses in these particularly challenging times.

New York City's entrepreneurs and small businesses who have been impacted by the COVID-19 crisis can receive free, limited-scope legal advice. Topics include: loans & grants, contracts & force majeure clauses, employment law matters, real estate and commercial leasing issues, and insurance matters.

Request an appointment here.

If you are an attorney interested in volunteering with the CV-19 Clinic, please fill out a volunteer registration form. Please note that completing this form does not guarantee you will receive a pro bono assignment through the clinic – assignments will depend on the volume and type of requests received. Further, this form is to be completed by lawyers who are City Bar members or whose law firms are already confirmed participants in this program.

If your organization is interested in collaborating with CBJC and NELP on the CV-19 Clinic or other crisis response initiatives, please contact CBJC Pro Bono Counsel Kurt M. Denk at covidresponse@nycbar.org.

The Small Business Legal Relief Alliance (SBLRA) is a group of legal service organizations and 15+ top law firms providing free consultations with pro bono lawyers for small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Alliance serves small businesses, nonprofits and self-employed individuals in practice areas including: loan & grant, tax, commercial lease, contracts, employment, insurance, and intellectual property, among others.

Request a consultation here.

Yes. If your business needs help with a commercial lease issue in New York City, you may be eligible for free legal services. Visit nyc.gov/commlease to learn more.

The Legal Aid Society is providing pro-bono legal advice to businesses impacted by COVID-19. As businesses may experience lost income due to the current threat, The Legal Aid Society can review leases to determine what a business' rights and obligations are in case of disaster, negotiate payment plans for arrears, get business documents in order for loan applications, etc.

For assistance, small businesses should contact Legal Aid Society at either (212) 426-3002 or (212) 426-3004 or email The Legal Aid Society's Community Development Project at communitydevproject@legal-aid.org.

Your business interruption insurance policy should list or describe the types of events it covers. Events that are not listed on, or not described in, the policy are typically not covered. It is important to review the policy exclusions, coverage limits, and applicable deductibles. You should also determine if the policy requires your business interruption to last for a certain time period before you are entitled to any policy benefits.

Business interruption coverage typically can only be triggered if you have property loss that leads to the business interruption. One example could be that a fire in your office has caused you to suspend your business activities.

Because coverage varies across policies, you will need to read your exact policy and consult your broker/insurer/agent for more information.

You should call your insurance provider with questions about your specific plan and whether it covers event cancelations. You might also want to ask your insurance provider about loss of profits cover, "key person" insurance, whether your current levels of coverage are adequate, and whether any exclusions may be relevant.

First, review your contract carefully to be sure you understand your obligations. Consult an attorney, if needed, for help understanding contract terms. If you need legal assistance, visit nyc.gov/LegalAssistance.

Once you understand your obligations, and if your attorney agrees that it's advisable, communicate clearly and promptly with the contract manager about the cause of delay, and any contingency plans you are able to offer. Understanding the magnitude of the situation, your government client may be willing to negotiate an extension or other adjustment in terms, even if it is not contractually obligated to do so.

Please be patient. Circumstances relating to the public health situation may have changed agencies' focus. We're all in this together, working to keep New York and New Yorkers safe. While you wait, be sure you don't miss deadlines to respond to requests for bids and solicitations. Also, consider how the goods or services you provide could help the City at this time and be ready if new opportunities come your way.

If you are a farmer, food producer, food processor, food distributor, or food retailer with excess supply or if you have demand for certain food items you cannot meet, let the City know by signing up for the City's Food Supply Match Directory.

• NYCEDC is seeking businesses with the ability to quickly source and/or make needed medical supplies (e.g. face shields, gowns, ventilators, masks, and other products as needed) to support the City's COVID-19 response. Learn more and complete the info form here.
• Suppliers or distributors with access to a stock of ready-made supplies to sell or donate (medical or otherwise) should visit nyc.gov/covidsuppliers.
• Companies or individuals looking to volunteer and/or donate funds, food, and goods to those in need should visit nyc.gov/donate.
• If you have additional questions on how you can support in the response, please visit Help Now NYC.