Governor Cuomo announces, “the promise of marital bliss returning” to New York State.

Beginning March 15th, the New York social gathering limit for professional licensed venues will increase to a maximum capacity of 150 guests, or 50% occupancy, whichever is lower, for both indoor and outdoor events.  Governor Andrew Cuomo announced in his January 29th press conference the State’s plan to allow New York businesses to reopen with higher guest counts under specific COVID-19 testing regulations.

As more details become available from New York State, we will include them here.

https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-cuomo-outlines-2021-agenda-reimagine-rebuild-renew

Create a Rapid Testing Network as a Tool to Help Businesses Reopen: Over the past several months, Governor Cuomo’s New York Forward reopening plan has paved the way for many businesses to resume operations safely through a phased approach and in accordance with public health protocols. While this has unleashed the ingenuity and creativity of New York businesses — such as new outdoor dining spaces and delivery options — it has also created significant financial struggles for these industries.

New York has been at the forefront of developing testing capacity throughout the COVID-19 crisis and will use that experience to help support the reopening of businesses. The State will continue to scale up the availability of testing to help businesses safely reduce capacity restrictions, as well as work with testing companies to stand up a network of convenient testing sites in city centers, starting with New York City. New York will also work with local governments to cut through any red tape to set up this critical infrastructure quickly. With this new network of rapid testing locations, a customer can stop into a new rapid testing facility, get tested, and 15 minutes later be cleared for dinner or a movie. This will provide an added layer of protection and confidence as New Yorkers resume economic activity.

 

The New York gathering limit on social gathering has been a maximum of 50 people since the pandemic began in July 2020.

Events must be approved by the local Health Department. Professional Event Venues will be required to adhere to hygiene, cleaning and disinfection requirements as advised by the CDC and DOH, including “Guidance for Cleaning and Disinfection of Public and Private Facilities for COVID-19.”

Events Venues and wedding professionals have worked diligently over the past year to ensure new safety protocols are followed to make every event as safe for event guests and the staff who executes them.  Wedding professionals can show their support and dedication to these regulations by downloading and showing the “NY Wedding Professionals COVID-19 Safety Promise” logo on their websites and social media feeds.

 

Watch the entire press conference below: