From the desk of City Manager Sarah Purdy...
COVID-19 UPDATE
April 27, 2020
There is positive news to report today – it looks like New York State will start re-opening on a phased regional basis in the middle of May. The reopening will be based on analysis of the Coronavirus case trending per region, and on what segments of the regional economy can reopen with the least risk.
In his daily briefing this morning, Governor Cuomo stated that in order for a region to move toward reopening, one of the criteria the region will need to meet is a decline in the COVID-19 hospitalizations for 14 consecutive days. Based on the daily number reports for St. Lawrence County in general as well as for Ogdensburg this means our region probably won’t be one of the first to reopen. But that gives us a chance to learn from the reopening of other regions so that our region gets it right when our turn arrives.
Not all entities per region will be allowed to reopen right away either. The plan is to allow construction and manufacturing functions with low risk to go first. The second phase would be businesses that are considered more essential but with low risk; we will all need to look for the details on exactly what this means. Reopening also will be required to include establishing measures to protect employees and the public Again, if our region is not one of the first to reopen, we can learn from what was allowed to open in which order in other regions.
As for City facilities, we will look to see what the State Department of Health and the County Public Health Department issue as guidelines and protocols for how to keep our employees, the public and our facilities safe. But at least we can start planning for it now. That is progress!
On another note, the Small Business Administration Upstate New York District Office is presenting a free webinar tomorrow at 1 p.m. that provides an update on the Paycheck Protection Program and the SBA’s COVID-19 relief efforts for small businesses. Check it out by clicking here.
Be hopeful, stay safe, stay healthy and stay together yet six feet apart. “Take 5 for New York” by calling someone and chatting for five minutes. To access the St. Lawrence County Public Health Department’s information please go to the County’s website at www.stlawco.org . In addition, here are links to several other sources of COVID-19 information that you may find useful.
Department of Labor Cares Act Information
US Small Business Administration
St. Lawrence County Industrial Development Agency
Governor Cuomo’s Website
New York State Department of Health
Protect Yourself & Stop the Spread of Germs
What You Need to Know
Please revisit this page for important updates from the City of Ogdensburg.
