Guidance from the NYS Dept of Health

Are You Looking for Guidance from New York State Department of Health?

The recommendations are changing rapidly for COVID-19. Keep yourself updated by visiting the New York State Department of Health website.

Click the links and scroll up or down on the NYSDOH page to find the latest information.

Governor Cuomo- Daily Updates 

Essential Business or Entity Guidance 

Insurance, Price Gouging, Mortgage and Rent Information 

Not finding what you are looking for?

Call the NYS COVID- 19 Hotline: 1-888-364-3065 

Still not finding what you need?

Email Ontario County Public Health: MailtoOntarioCountyPublicHealth 

(Updated 9/3/2020)

NYSDOH COVID Medical Guidance for Schools

1NYSDOH_PreKGr12_Toolkit_093020-page-001

Parents and College Students, Keep Current with COVID-19 Data


Two new data dashboards are being released to monitor COVID-19 at SUNY colleges and universities and local schools.

New York State launched a COVID tracker to monitor cases at SUNY colleges and universities. The Department of Health will be issuing regulations to require colleges to notify the state when they have 100 COVID-19 cases and could have to transition to remote learning. To address, monitor and mitigate the spread of COVID across SUNY, New York also launched a case tracker database for SUNY's 64 colleges and universities. Updated daily, the dashboard will provide case counts for each individual campus, among other data. 

NYSDOH Dashboard for COVID-19 in schools will be up and running when data starts to come into the system. (9/9/2020)

October 9, 2020-Student Athletes and Face Coverings

Are school athletes required to wear a face mask while competing? Yes. This is unless the student athlete can not tolerate a face covering for the physical activity. The coaches, trainers, and other people not playing are required to wear a face covering. 

The New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) guidance states: 

General Considerations (All Sports): 

  1. Responsible Parties must ensure a distance of at least six feet is maintained among individuals at all times, whether indoor or outdoor, unless safety or the core activity (e.g. practicing, playing) requires a shorter distance. If a shorter distance is required, individuals must wear acceptable face coverings, unless players are unable to tolerate a face covering for the physical activity (e.g. practicing, playing); provided, however, that coaches, trainers, and other individuals who are not directly engaged in physical activity are required to wear a face covering.

(Updated 10/22/2020)

October 22, 2020- Halloween

Many traditional Halloween activities can be high-risk for spreading viruses. There are several safer, alternative ways to participate in Halloween. 

Here are some safer Halloween ideas:

  1. Carving or decorating pumpkins with members of your household and displaying them
  2. Carving or decorating pumpkins outside, at a safe distance, with neighbors or friends
  3. Decorating your house, apartment, or living space
  4. Doing a Halloween scavenger hunt where children are given lists of Halloween-themed things to look for while they walk outdoors from house to house admiring Halloween decorations at a distance
  5. Having a virtual Halloween costume contest
  6. Having a Halloween movie night with people you live with
  7. Having a scavenger hunt-style trick-or-treat search with your household members in or around your home rather than going house to house

Halloween Risk from the CDC

Halloween Dos Graphic pdf-page-001

Travel advisory 10 20

COVID-19 Information for Gyms & Physical Fitness Centers

Guidance takes effect on Monday, August 24, 2020 for gyms and fitness centers in all regions of New York. 

New York State Department of Health guidelines apply to fitness activities and facilities, including, but not limited, to standalone, hotel, residential,  and office gyms and fitness centers, gyms and fitness centers in higher education institutions,  yoga/Pilates/barre  studios, boxing/kickboxing  gyms, fitness boot camps, CrossFit or other plyometric  boxes, and other group fitness classes. Residential and hotel gyms and fitness centers must have staff available to ensure compliance  with the guidance.

Gym operators/owners must:

  1. Have a reopening plan: Draft a reopening plan that follows the attached guidance. The guidance  can be found on the following website:  Fitness Reopening
  2. Complete the affirmation: Complete the online affirmation found at the bottom of the web page accessed via the link above.
  3. Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) documentation: Be sure your gym’s HVAC system is equipped with MERV-13, or industry equivalent or greater (such as HEPA) filters AND certified and documented by a certified HVAC technician, professional, or company, ASHRAI-certified professional, certified retro-commissioning professional, of New York Licensed professional building engineer, OR have one of those same parties certify and document that the existing HVAC system would be unable to perform to the minimum level of heating and cooling that it was otherwise able to provide.  
  4. Be ready for an inspection: Be prepared for an inspection within 2 weeks of reopening.  Ontario County is in the process of developing an inspection template.  The inspection will include items on noted in bullets 1-3. The HVAC signed documents must be available at time of inspection.

 Ontario County is currently devising a plan for gym operators with more specific instructions. Currently, it is not necessary for the operator/owners to submit their reopening plan to Public Health. They do need to have both the reopening plan and the HVAC documentation available at inspection and they must reflect the New York State guideline. More information and instructions will be released as soon as possible.

New York State Department of Health Guidance

(Updated 9/3/2020)


COVID-19 Information for Re-opening Schools

COVID-19 Information for People with Disabilities

COVID-19 is a new disease and we are still learning how it spreads, the severity of illness it causes, and to what extent it may spread in the United States.

Disability alone may not be related to higher risk for getting COVID-19 or having severe illness. Most people with disabilities are not inherently at higher risk for becoming infected with or having severe illness from COVID-19.  However, some people with disabilities might be at a higher risk of infection or severe illness because of their underlying medical conditions.  All people seem to be at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 if they have serious underlying chronic medical conditions like chronic lung disease, a serious heart condition, or a weakened immune system. Adults with disabilities are three times more likely than adults without disabilities to have heart disease, stroke, diabetes, or cancer than adults without disabilities. (Updated 7/20/2020)

Learn more:

Looking for the New York State Liquor Authority Guidance on serving food with alcoholic beverages in bars and restaurants?

(Updated 7/17/2020)

COVID-19 Information for Funeral Directors

 Funeral Directors

(Updated 6/30/2020)

COVID-19 Information for Sports and Recreation from New York State Department of Health

(Updated 9/3/2020)

Health Not

Ontario County Healthcare Offices!

Are you looking for specific COVID-19 guidance for your healthcare facility? 

New York State Department of Health releases guidance to healthcare workers and entities via the Health Commerce System (HIN). The notifications are under the "Important Health Notifications" section. Each provider office should have one representative that receives these notifications. 

Still struggling? Email: MailtoOntarioCountyPublicHealth 

(Updated 5/19/2020)