Friday, May 29, 2020
The Governor today announced that five Upstate regions are entering Phase 2 of his NY Forward reopening plan today. This Phase includes professional services which we understand includes dentistry.
Accordingly, this allows members in these regions to resume elective procedures immediately.
HERE is a listing of the regional breakdown the State created for this reopening.
The Governor has announced that an assessment will be made at the end of each phase in a region. Assuming certain public safety measures are met, they will advance to the next phase.
Here are the projected earliest Phase 2 commencement dates by region:
| Capital Region | June 3 |
| Central New York | May 29 |
| Finger Lakes | May 29 |
| Long Island | June 10 |
| Mid-Hudson | June 9 |
| Mohawk Valley | May 29 |
| New York City | June 22 |
| North Country | May 29 |
| Southern Tier | May 29 |
| Western NY | June 2 |
Again, this is subject to change.
The State has outlined detailed guidance on how industries, including professional offices should operate upon reopening. HERE are the detailed guidelines provided by the state and also a TEMPLATE that each business must complete and keep in their own files. It does not have to be submitted to the state.
In addition to general guidelines, OMS practices should also check with pertinent federal agencies for specific procedures & protocols related to dentistry:
CDC Dental Infection Control Guidelines
OSHA Workplace Guidelines
AAOMS Interim Reopening Protocol
AAOMS The Reopening Challenge Guide
ADA Return to Work Toolkit
The New York State Dental Association, along with NYSSOMS, had long been advocating for an immediate statewide reopening of dentistry. We know that the Governor’s office was very concerned with the nature of dental aerosolization which likely led to a more phased reopening of our profession.
We do understand that PPE is still difficult to obtain but we understand that inventory from your regular suppliers should begin to improve by the middle of June. Members of NYSDA may also be able to obtain a limited supply through them. Watch for any announcements from them on that.
We thank all those members that completed the recent survey we emailed on your experience during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results of that survey can be viewed HERE.
If you have any questions on these issues, you can call our Executive Director, Michael Herrmann, at 518-689-2744. The leadership of NYSSOMS hopes that you, your family, and your staff are staying safe during this very difficult time.
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