Today, New York State released information for Phase Three businesses to use as they prepare to reopen. The industries include food services and personal care. The food services guidelines apply to all restaurants and food services including food trucks and other food concessions. Guidelines for personal care apply to non-hair-related personal care businesses and services, including tattoo and piercing facilities, appearance enhancement practitioners, massage therapy, spas, cosmetology, nail specialty, UV and non-UV tanning, or waxing.

The material released by New York State includes summary guidelines, detailed guidelines, business safety templates, and a business affirmation form broken down by industry. Visit our website and scroll through the Business Reopening Guidelines page to see all of these documents along with additional materials designed to assist you as you prepare to safely reopen your business. You must complete and submit the business affirmation form to self-certify with New York State that you have a plan in place that meets safety guidelines. Your guidelines and business affirmation form should be printed and posted at your place of business.

It is important to note that Niagara County is part of the Western New York Region, and the region is hopeful that it will enter Phase Three of the Reopening Plan next week, providing we meet all of the health monitoring metrics. We will alert you when a date to begin Phase Three has been confirmed.

If your business was previously deemed essential and is in an industry sector included in Phase Three you are required to complete and submit a Business Affirmation Form to self-certify that your business meets all of the safety guidelines. As with all other businesses, those guidelines should be printed, along with the business affirmation form, and posted at your place of business.