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)

Wedding receptions and catered events can now resume statewide at limited capacity. All venues hosting weddings and catered events must follow the State's health and safety protocols.

All venues hosting weddings and catered events must follow the State's strict health and safety protocols, including the following requirements:

  • Venues are restricted to 50% capacity, with no more than 150 attendees per event
  • All attendees must have proof of recent negative test result or proof of immunization prior to the event
  • Sign-in with contact information required to assist with potential contact tracing
  • Venues must notify local health departments of large events, above the social gathering limit, in advance
  • Masks will be required at all times except when seated and eating or drinking
  • Ceremonial and socially-distanced dancing allowed in designated areas

More information on the industry guidelines can be found via pdf document that can be accessed by using this link and clicking for detailed guidance: NYSDOH Wedding Guidance

(Update 3/16/2021)

Nursing Home Visitation Update 

Per New York State Department of Health , nursing home visitation is based on the COVID-19 positivity rate can begin on February 26, 2021. 

COVID-19 county positivity rates, found on the COVID-19 Data Dashboard will be used to determine when visitation should be opened and paused. When the county positivity rate is high (>10%), visitation must only occur for compassionate care situations according to the core principles of COVID-19 infection prevention and facility policies.

COVID-19 visitor testing may be required based on the county COVID-19 positivity rate. Visitors must either: present a negative COVID-19 test result from within the past seventy-two hours (72), or facilities may utilize rapid testing to meet the testing requirement. Additionally, all visitors must adhere to all infection control practices. Please contact the nursing home prior to the visit to ask about the new visitation guidelines. 

NYSDOH Nursing Home Guidance

(Updated 2/23/2021) 

Updated School Medical Guidance for Schools (February 2021)

The updated Pre K- Grade 12 Toolkit with all changes highlighted. These changes apply to all in-person or hybrid students, faculty and staff:

  •  All quarantine and isolation requirements have been reduced from 14 days to 10 days
  • Release from isolation is now based on a 10 day isolation and resolution of symptoms OR release from isolation by the local health department 
  • The travel advisory screening question reduces the look-back from the past 14 days to the past 10 days 
  • The travel advisory screening language was changed to a level 2 or higher country and noncontiguous states
  • The travel advisory algorithm reduces the mandatory quarantine from 14 days to 10 days and adds the test-out option for travelers 

Click the link below to download & print the NYSDOH COVID-19 Medical Guidance for Schools

NYSDOH COVID Medical Guidance for Schools

School toolkit 1


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)

Travel Guidance Update

Starting April 1st, domestic travelers are no longer required to quarantine after entering New York from another U.S. State or U.S. Territory. While no longer required, the NYS Department of Health still recommends quarantine after domestic travel as an added precaution.


Mandatory quarantine remains in effect for international travelers. All travelers must continue to fill out the Traveler Health Form. Individuals should continue strict adherence to all safety guidelines to stop the spread—wearing masks, socially distancing and avoiding gatherings.


A couple of key points:
Regardless of quarantine status, all individuals exposed to COVID-19 or returning from travel must:
•    Continue daily symptom monitoring through Day 14;
•    Continue strict adherence to all recommended non-pharmaceutical interventions, including hand hygiene and the use of face coverings, through Day 14 (even if fully vaccinated);
•    Must immediately self-isolate if any symptoms develop and contact the local public health authority or their healthcare provider to report this change in clinical status and determine if they should seek testing.
For more information:  NYSDOH Travel Website

(Updated 4/2/2021)

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)