This year has quickly gone from a promising year for the events industry into one of the most damaging. Event industry professionals in New York & New Jersey; along with the rest of the world, are left wondering when or if their businesses can survive the COVID-19 pandemic. The most challenging part is the unknown of when things will be back to normal. Below is a timeline of up to date current events in our event industry.
New York Updated Information
Recent news as of July 14, 2020:
New York’s travel advisory has been expanded to 22 states. If you’re traveling to NY from the following states you must self-quarantine for 14 days: The states are: AL, AR, AZ, CA, FL, GA, IA, ID, KS, LA, MN, MS, NC, NM, NV, OH, OK, SC, TN, TX, UT, WI..
Recent news involving indoor events as of July 1, 2020:
New York’s return to indoor dining has been officially postponed. This means, until this takes effect, events will not take place inside a venue.
Recent news involving outdoor events:
Upcoming information: According to recent governor news, it’s expected that Gov. Cuomo is going to announce five regions on track to enter Phase 4 this Friday, July 17. Source below:
Phase 1 and what it means:
Businesses in each region will re-open in phases. Re-opening refers to non-essential businesses and business activities. Essential businesses and business activities that are open will remain open. The guidelines below apply to both non-essential businesses in regions that are permitted to re-open and essential businesses throughout the state that were previously permitted to remain open. Eligibility for reopening was determined by health metrics for each region. Here is a breakdown of industries in each phase:
Phase One: Capital Region, Central New York, Finger Lakes, Long Island, Mid-Hudson, Mohawk Valley, New York City, North Country, Southern Tier and Western New York are allowed to reopen
- Construction
- Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting
- Retail – (Limited to curbside or in-store pickup or drop off)
- Manufacturing
- Wholesale Trade
Phase 2 and what it means:
The guidelines below apply to non-essential businesses in regions that are permitted to reopen, essential businesses throughout the state that were previously permitted to remain open, and commercial and recreational activities that have been permitted to operate statewide with restrictions.
Phase Two: Capital Region, Central NY, Finger Lakes, Long Island, Mid-Hudson, Mohawk Valley, North Country, Southern Tier and Western NY can enter Phase 2 of reopening
Pursuant to the Governor’s Executive Orders, the following businesses remain closed:
- Malls; specifically, any indoor common portions of retail shopping malls with 100,000 or more square feet of retail space available for lease must remain closed to the public; however, any stores without their own external entrance(s) may operate via curbside pickup in Phase 1 and 2 providing purchased items to customers at or near the general mall entrance and any stores with their own external entrance(s) separate from the general mall entrance (e.g. strip malls, anchor tenants), may open for curbside and in-store pickup in Phase 1 and all in-store retail activities in Phase 2;
- Indoor on-premise restaurant and bar service, excluding take-out or delivery for off-premise consumption in Phase 1 and outdoor on-premise restaurant and bar service in Phase 2;
- Large gathering/event venues, including but not limited to establishments that host concerts, conferences, or other in-person performances or presentations in front of an in-person audience;
- Gyms, fitness centers, and exercise classes, except for remote or streaming services;
- Video lottery and casino gaming facilities;
- Movie theaters, except drive-ins; and
- Places of public amusement, whether indoors or outdoors, including but not limited to, locations with amusement rides, carnivals, amusement parks, water parks, aquariums, zoos, arcades, fairs, children’s play centers, funplexes, theme parks, bowling alleys, family and children’s attractions.
Phase 3 and what it means:
The guidelines below apply to non-essential businesses in regions that are permitted to reopen, essential businesses throughout the state that were previously permitted to remain open, and commercial and recreational activities that have been permitted to operate statewide with restrictions.
Phase Three: Capital Region, Central New York, Finger Lakes, Long Island, Mid-Hudson, Mohawk Valley, North Country, Southern Tier and Western NY can enter Phase Three of reopening.
- Restaurants / Food Services
- Personal Care
Phase 4 and what it means:
The guidelines below apply to non-essential businesses in regions that are permitted to reopen, essential businesses throughout the state that were previously permitted to remain open, and commercial and recreational activities that have been permitted to operate statewide with restrictions.
Phase Four: Capital Region, Central New York, Finger Lakes, Long Island, Mid-Hudson, Mohawk Valley, North Country, Southern Tier and Western NY can enter Phase Four of reopening.
- Higher Education
- Pre-K to Grade 12 Schools
- Low-Risk Outdoor Arts & Entertainment
- Low-Risk Indoor Arts & Entertainment
- Media Production
- Professional Sports Competitions With No Fans
- Malls
New Jersey Updated Information
Recent news as of July 14, 2020:
If you’re traveling to New Jersey from the following states, you should self-quarantine for 14 days: AL, AR, AZ, CA, FL, GA, IA, ID, KS, LA, MN, MS, NC, NM, NV, OH, OK, SC, TN, TX, UT, WI. There are 423 new positive test results, pushing statewide cumulative total since March 4th to 175,915 cases and confirmed 28 deaths, pushing statewide total to 13,635 lives lost.
Recent news involving indoor events:
The reopening of indoor dining remains off the table after a planned date was scrapped, and movies and gyms remain closed indefinitely. Source: https://www.nj.com/coronavirus/2020/07/for-the-1st-time-since-may-nj-has-nothing-new-reopening-from-coronavirus-restrictions-this-week.html
Face coverings are now required in outdoor public spaces when social distancing is not practicable. Source: https://nj.gov/governor/index.shtml\
Recent news involving outdoor events July 2, 2020: The number of people allowed at outdoor gatherings in New Jersey rose from 250 to 500. Source:
No upcoming details for indoor events.
Stage One
In Stage One, restrictions are relaxed on low-risk activities.
- May 2: State Parks and Forests reopen for passive recreation.
- May 2: Golf courses reopen.
- May 17: Charter fishing and watercraft rental businesses reopen.
- May 18: Non-essential construction resumes.
- May 18: Non-essential retail reopens for curbside pickup.
- May 20: In-person sales at car and motorcycle dealerships and at bicycle shops resumes.
- May 22: Public and private beaches, boardwalks, lakes, and lakeshores reopen.
- May 22: Campgrounds reopen.
- May 22: Some outdoor recreational businesses, including batting cages and golf ranges, shooting and archery ranges, horseback riding, private tennis clubs, and community gardens, restart their operations.
- May 22: The limit on outdoor gatherings, including the capacity limit for some outdoor recreational businesses, increases from 10 to 25 individuals.
- May 22: Professional sports teams can practice and engage in games or matches, if their leagues resume competition.
- May 26: Elective surgeries and invasive procedures, both medical and dental, resume.
- June 1: Horse racetracks reopen, with no spectators allowed.
- June 9: Stay-at-home order lifted and limits on indoor and outdoor gatherings increased.
- June 9: Outdoor recreational and entertainment businesses reopen, with the exception of amusement parks, water parks, and arcades.
Stage Two
In Stage Two, moderate-risk activities restart. When leaving home, New Jerseyans should wear a face covering and keep a social distance from others. All workers who can work from home should continue to work from home.
- June 15: Child care centers reopen their doors to all clients.
- June 15: Outdoor dining reopens.
- June 15: Non-essential retail stores reopen for indoor shopping.
- June 15: Motor Vehicle Commission agencies reopen for pick-up and drop-off services.
- June 15: Libraries reopen for curbside pickup.
- June 22: Organized sports activities resume.
- June 22: Personal care businesses, including barber shops and hair salons, reopen.
- June 22: Swimming pools reopen.
- June 22: Limit on outdoor gatherings increases to 250 people.
- June 29: Motor Vehicle Commission agencies begin to offer behind-the-wheel road tests.
- June 29: Indoor portions of retail shopping malls reopen.
- July 2: Casinos reopen.
- July 2: Outdoor playgrounds, outdoor amusement parks, and outdoor water parks reopen.
- July 2: Museums, libraries, aquariums, and indoor recreational facilities reopen at limited capacity.
- July 2: Gyms and fitness centers may reopen outdoor spaces and offer limited individualized indoor instruction by appointment only.
- July 2: Indoor pools reopen.
- July 3: Limit on outdoor gatherings increases to 500 people
- July 6: Youth day camps and summer programs can operate.
- July 6: Modified outdoor graduation ceremonies begin.
- July 6: NJ TRANSIT rail and light rail service resumes to full weekday schedule.
- July 7: Motor Vehicle Commission agencies resume in-person transactions, including issuing new licenses and permits.
Stage Three:
In Stage Three, higher-contact activities restart with significant safeguarding. New Jerseyans follow all safety guidelines and respect social distancing.
Phased-in businesses and activities, with adherence to safeguarding and modification guidelines, may include:
- Expanded dining,
- Limited entertainment,
- Expanded personal care,
- Bars with limited capacity.
Precautions that apply across all stages include:
- Work that can be done from home should continue to be done from home.
- Clinically high-risk individuals who can stay at home should continue to do so.
- All residents and businesses should follow state and federal safeguarding guidelines: wash hands; wear masks in public; respect social distancing; minimize gatherings; disinfect workplace and businesses; and no mass gatherings
With all of this information being said, in our actions, we are seeking support of the Live Events industry due to unique restrictions during this challenging time and the unknown of when indoor events will be able to take place. Learn more about joining and advocating with us and let’s bring events back! https://nynjeventcoalition.com/
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