News

New York City can begin the final phase, phase four, of reopening as early as Monday, July 20 if everything goes as planned.

Phase three began began on Monday, July 6.

Phase 3: Personal care (Non-hair-related personal care services, including tattoo and piercing facilities, appearance enhancement practitioners, massage therapy, spas, cosmetology, nail specialty, UV and non-UV tanning, or waxing.)

Some of the public libraries reopened on Monday, July 13, but with grab-and-go services.

NYC Parks is also reopening dog runs, basketball courts, tennis courts, volleyball courts, handball courts and bocce courts. (Organized team sports and group play remain high-risk activities and will not be permitted, however, so you’ll have to play solo for a bit.)

Indoor dining, movie theaters and casinos were postponed from reopening during this phase.

Phase two began on Monday, June 22.

Phase 2: Professional services, finance and insurance retail, administrative support and real estate/rental leasing were allowed to reopen.

The second phase also included outdoor dining, in-store retail, hair salons/barber shops, playgrounds, house of worships, and car sales/rentals.

Phase one began on Monday, June 8.

Phase 1: Construction, manufacturing, wholesale and non essential businesses (select retail for curbside pickup) were allowed to reopen.

Click the link to find more information about New York State’s four phases of reopening.

How to talk to your kids about Coronavirus

The gist of it is, stay calm. We set the tone for how our kids are going to react.

Be honest, but age appropriate, “We (everyone is) are staying home to keep germs from spreading to our friends.”

Be relatable, “You know how we get a cold and you don’t feel well and you have to stay at home if you get a fever? Right now, we are being helpers by staying home.”

As long as we allow our children to share their thoughts, it becomes less scary for them. Reassure them, there are lots of grown ups helping those who are sick and appreciate us helping, by staying home.

Click the link for tips from an expert on how to talk to kids about the Coronavirus.

Where to get the latest updates on the Coronavirus:

NYC Department of Health

NYC Department of Education

New York State Department of Health

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

World Health Organization

Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is investigating MIS-C, a rare but serious complication associated with COVID-19.

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a condition where different body parts can become inflamed, including the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, skin, eyes, or gastrointestinal organs. Children with MIS-C may have a fever and various symptoms, including abdominal (gut) pain, vomiting, diarrhea, neck pain, rash, bloodshot eyes, or feeling extra tired. We do not yet know what causes MIS-C. However, many children with MIS-C had the virus that causes COVID-19, or had been around someone with COVID-19.

Click the link to find out more information about MIS-C or what the CDC is doing.