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Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the State reached the lowest percentage of positive COVID-19 tests yesterday since the pandemic began. Out of the 59,341 tests conducted in New York State yesterday, only 567, or less than one percent, were positive.

The Governor also announced that New York City is on track to enter Phase Two of reopening on June 22. The Mid-Hudson Valley is on track to enter Phase Three of reopening on June 23 and Long Island is on track to enter Phase Three of reopening June 24 based on current data. Business guidance for Phase Two of the state's reopening plan is available here and guidance for Phase Three is available here.

Cuomo also signed legislation (S.8397-A/A.10326-A) prohibiting health care employers from penalizing employees for making complaints of employer violations. This new law will provide medical professionals with greater protections and allow them to speak more freely about their working conditions and employee or patient safety in the workplace.

"New York City is on track to enter Phase Two this Monday, and Mid-Hudson Valley and Long Island are on track to enter Phase Three next week. It's one set of rules for everyone, and they have worked everywhere in the state because New Yorkers have been responsible in what they're doing," Cuomo said. "As more and more businesses begin to reopen across the state, store owners, employees and local governments all have to be responsible and do their jobs to help prevent a renewed spread of this virus. New Yorkers have done an incredible job in working to beat back this virus, and we must continue to remain smart so we don't erase the progress we've made."

The Governor also announced that the New York State Department of Financial Services has reached an agreement with New York's credit reporting industry to help New York consumers facing hardship caused by COVID-19 to avoid unjustified negative impacts on consumers' credit reports. DFS also urges New York State-regulated financial institutions to furnish credit information in ways that minimizes negative impacts on consumers.

Credit reporting agencies will:

• Provide one free credit report each month through November 2020;
• Inform financial institutions of procedures that allow institutions to report missed or delinquent payments in ways that minimize the impact on consumers' credit histories and credit scores;
• Apprise financial institutions of their credit reporting obligations under the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which provides relief for consumers; and
• Communicate with financial institutions about credit reporting that may not comply with the requirements of the CARES Act.

Cuomo also announced the state has reached the lowest number of deaths on since the pandemic began. Seventeen people in New York passed away yesterday due to COVID-19, down from a record-high of 800 just nine weeks ago. There have still been zero COVID-19 related deaths of Tompkins County residents.

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