NY adds more restrictions in part of Monroe County, which goes to Orange Zone

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 November 2020 at 11:09 am

New York has put more restrictions in place for part of Monroe County, where Covid cases have significantly increased.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Monday part of Monroe – much of the City of Rochester, and parts of the surrounding areas including Brighton, Gates and Irondequoit – would change from a precautionary yellow zone to an orange zone. (Click here to see the map of the orange zone.)

The change means schools in the orange zone close for in-person schooling and some businesses will face more restrictions, included being temporarily closed until the cases and hospitalizations drop.

“We need a reality check because these are dangerous times that we’re in,” Cuomo said on Monday “We are in a place now where there is a bad synergy – a sense of Covid fatigue.”

Much or Monroe, Erie and part of Niagara counties (North Tonawanda) are also in the less restricted yellow zones. Erie County officials worry parts of that county could be designated in a red zone, which has the most severe restrictions.

Here are the restrictions for the three zones:

Yellow Zones

Non-residential gatherings limited to 25 people, inside and outdoors.
Residential gatherings capped at 10 people, inside and outside.
Houses of worship, limited to 50 percent of maximum capacity.
Businesses all open.
Dining limited to 4 people per table, inside and outside, with bars and restaurants closing at 10 p.m. for on-premises consumption.
Schools remain open with 20 percent of in-person students and staff tested each week.

Orange Zones

Non-essential gatherings are limited to 10 people.
Certain non-essential businesses need to reduce in-person by 100 percent. Those businesses with a higher risk for transmitting Covid-19 include gyms, fitness centers or classes, barbers, hair salons, spas, tattoos or piercing parlors, nail technicians and nail salons, cosmetologists, estheticians, and all other personal care services.
Houses of worship are limited to a maximum capacity of 33 percent maximum occupancy or 25 people, whichever is fewer
Any restaurant or tavern won’t be allowed to serve patrons food or beverage on premises but may be open for takeout or delivery, and provide outdoor service (as long as no seated group exceeds four people).
Schools are remote-only and closed for in-person classes

Red Zones

Non-residential gatherings prohibited.
Residential gatherings prohibited.
Houses of worship will be the lesser of a 10-person maximum or 25 percent of maximum occupancy.
Non-essential businesses are closed.
Dining is limited to takeout or delivery only.
Schools are closed except for remote only.