Restaurants – The Governor announced on Wednesday that the curfew for restaurants would be pushed back to midnight from 11 p.m. beginning Monday, April 19. Full updated food service guidance can be found here.

Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Pause – After reports that six individuals experienced severe blood clots, the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a joint statement on Tuesday, April 13, recommending a “pause” in the administration of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine until the incidences can be more thoroughly investigated.  The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) followed up on Wednesday with an emergency meeting and recommended the pause be extended until more data is available and evaluated related to the abnormal blood clot issues (media here). In the meantime, the State has stopped administering the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and is substituting with the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.

Updated Guidance for Graduation and Commencement Ceremonies – Effective May 1, indoor and outdoor graduation and commencement ceremonies will be allowed with limited attendee capacity, depending on the event size and the location. Detailed guidance available here.

Vaccinating Farm and Food Production Workers – The Governor has  announced that as part of the new vaccination effort, New York State will provide 500 doses to Sun River Health to administer to Angry Orchard employees, as well as farm and food production workers from other facilities in the Orange County area.  The state is also working to coordinate with local health departments and Federally Qualified Health Centers to bring pop-up vaccination sites to workers, including migrant workers, at their places of employment.

Spectators at Horse and Auto Races, Restaurant Curfew Pushed Back – Governor Cuomo  announced on Wednesday, April 14 that spectators will be allowed at horse and auto races at 20 percent capacity, beginning Thursday, April 22. In addition, the curfew for restaurants will be pushed back to midnight from 11 p.m. beginning Monday, April 19. Full updated food service guidance can be found here.