Capital Region Enters Phase Two Today – So What’s Opening?

Governor Cuomo set out guidelines for different regions to open up in phases. Once we met the standards of hospitalizations, infections, and death rates we could enter phase one. As the rates continue to decrease we are now ready to enter Phase Two today.

So what does that mean for the Capital Region? Here are some of the businesses that you will see opening today and the next few weeks.

The big one is hair salons and barbershops. People are running around the area looking like Chewbacca and they are ready to tame the mane they have grown since March. Your appointment to get your hair cut is going to look different than what it was like before the pandemic. There won't be a waiting room, you'll wait in your car to be called in. Then you'll wash your hands and put on a mask and gloves as well as a sanitized cape. Hairstylists will wear face masks and face shields. Don't expect to get in anytime soon...some places have been taking appointments for the last couple weeks.

Retail businesses can open up with restrictions on the number of customers that can be in the store at one time and social distancing of 6 feet. In addition, additional cleaning protocols must be used too. No Malls can open up yet, except for the anchor stores with a separate outside entrance.

Real estate offices can open as well as open houses and home showings. Social distancing and PPE should still be used.

Looking to buy a new or used car? Car dealers have been doing contactless selling since New York "paused" in March, but now the showrooms are open with social distancing of course.

Offices can reopen with social distancing guidelines, one-way hallways and the areas must be continually disinfected.

A full list of businesses that can reopen in phase two and the restrictions can be found on the state’s website.

The Capital Region will stay in Phase Two for at least two weeks. If after two weeks the numbers continue to decline we will be able to move into Phase Three. However, there is concern that with the protests and lack of social distancing over the last eight days we might see a spike in coronavirus cases.

According to the governor's website these businesses are still closed in Phase Two.

• Malls; specifically, any indoor common portions of retail shopping malls with 100,000 or more square feet of retail space available for lease; however, any stores located within shopping malls, which have their own external entrances open to the public, separate from the general mall entrance (e.g. strip malls), may open;
• Dine-in and on-premise restaurant or bar service, excluding take-out or delivery for off-premise consumption;
• 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.