COVID 19

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COVID-19 News

On March 18, Governor Cuomo signed into law an executive order (No. 202.6) related to New York State’s response to the COVID-19 emergency. You can view the Executive Order here: https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/no-2026-continuing-temporary-suspension-and-modification-laws-relating-disaster-emergency
 

The order states that all businesses and not-for-profit entities in the state must reduce their in-person workforce at any work locations by *50% no later than Friday, March 20th, at 8pm. (*NOTE: Governor Cuomo announced March 19 this is being reduced to 25%)

​ As a follow up to yesterday’s message, Empire State Development has now posted guidance intended to assist businesses in determining whether they are an essential business and steps to request such designation. 
Please click on this link to view the guidance. https://esd.ny.gov/guidance-executive-order-2026

COVID-19 Resources & Links

For the latest health information, click on these links:

The U.S. SBA Offers Disaster Assistance to New York Small Businesses

Economically Impacted by Coronavirus

 The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to New York small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19),
SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza announced today. SBA acted under its own authority, as provided by the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act that was recently signed by the President, to declare a disaster following a request received from Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo on March 17, 2020.
The disaster declaration makes SBA assistance available in the entire state of New York.

Small businesses, private non-profit organizations of any size, small agricultural cooperatives and small aquaculture enterprises that have been financially impacted as a direct result of COVID-19 since Jan. 31, 2020, may qualify for Economic Injury Disaster Loans of up to $2 million to help meet financial obligations and operating expenses which could have been met had the disaster not occurred,” said Administrator Carranza. “These loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that can’t be paid because of the disaster’s impact. Disaster loans can provide vital economic assistance to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing,” Carranza added.

Eligibility for Economic Injury Disaster Loans is based on the financial impact of COVID-19. The interest rate is 3.75% for small businesses. The interest rate for private non-profit organizations is 2.75%. SBA offers loans with long-term repayments in order to keep payments affordable, up to a maximum of 30 years and are available to entities without the financial ability to offset the adverse impact without hardship.

 Applicants may apply online, receive additional disaster assistance information and download applications at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. Individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing may call (800) 877-8339. Completed applications should be mailed to U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.
​
The deadline to apply for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan is Dec. 21, 2020.

County Executive Ryan Announces Opening of Ulster

County's First Mobile Testing Site at Tech City

Posted March 22, 2020

Second location planned to open next week in Ellenville

KINGSTON, N.Y. - Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan today announced information about Ulster County’s first drive-through mobile COVID-19 testing site located at Tech City. Ryan plans for a second site to open in Ellenville next week. The site, operated in partnership with Nuvance Health, will add significant testing capacity and streamline the process for residents to be safely tested. In addition, the mobile site will reduce possible exposure to COVID-19 at hospitals and medical practices, which are preparing to handle an increasing number of patients affected by COVID-19. Save-On, a local business in Kingston, has donated $100,000 in tent supplies for the location. 

“Adding this mobile testing site will save lives. It will provide a significant surge in testing capacity, which will enable us to better treat those affected and slow the spread of COVID-19,” Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan said. “I want to thank Nuvance Health and Save-On for stepping up during this critical moment for our community. Our entire team will continue to work around the clock to keep every Ulster County resident safe and healthy."

Individuals seeking a COVID-19 test at the testing site must meet all of the following criteria: 
- You called your primary care physician’s office and had a phone consultation
- Based on your symptoms and other information you provided, your physician determined that you meet criteria for COVID-19 testing, and ordered a test for you
- You have a scheduled appointment at the collection site. Scheduling information will be provided by your physician. 

Any individual who does not have a primary care physician, should contact the Ulster County COVID-19 Hotline at 845-443-8888.

Residents permitted by their physician to enter the site will be met by a trained provider who will collect a sample for lab testing. After leaving the test site, residents should drive home and limit interactions with others during this time. Those who are tested should plan to self-quarantine for up to 14 days and will receive self-quarantine guidelines at the collection site. It may take up to six days to receive test results back and individuals who receive tests will be notified by their doctor with the results. Both healthcare providers and law enforcement will be on site along with three clinicians from Ellenville Hospital.

Tech City is located at 300 Enterprise Drive, Kingston, NY 12401. The testing site is currently slated to be open Monday through Saturday, 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM by appointment only. Traffic message boards have been placed along entry routes (both Enterprise Drive and Boices Lane) to direct individuals.

County Executive Ryan will be holding a virtual Facebook Live Town Hall tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. where he will be providing additional information about mobile testing sites and taking residents’ questions. Please tune-in here. 

There are currently 32 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ulster County. 


For additional information about COVID-19 and the mobile testing process, please visit: https://ulstercountyny.gov/coronavirus
Ulster County COVID-19 Hotline: 845-443-8888   NYS Coronavirus Information Hotline: 888-364-3065