ENFIELD, NY (WSKG) - New York Governor Andrew Cuomo was in Johnson City on Tuesday at the SUNY Binghamton School of Pharmacy for his daily briefing.Broome County is part of the Southern Tier region set to begin the first phase of reopening from the COVID-19.
Cuomo said that local governments will be responsible for monitoring criteria to make the reopening successful. He said his administration has planned the phased reopening because it's the smart way of doing it to prevent a resurgence of the virus."Smart means regional management, local government managed and engaged, and, citizen participation because this all turns on what people do," Cuomo said. "This is not about government. Government can offer advice and suggestions and guidance."The governor said regions and local municipalities are also responsible for enforcement of any of the requirements for reopening. These include ensuring that businesses are taking safety measures outlined in their reopening plans.Cuomo said that the state will help localities but it is up to newly-created regional control boards. The members of the board are state and local leaders.The Southern Tier Regional Control Board members are: Basil Seggos, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner; Stacey Duncan, the Agency Executive Director; Dave Marsh, Business Manager, Laborers Local 785; Broome County Executive Jason Garnar; Chemung County Executive Chris Moss; Tompkins County Administrator Jason Molino; Steuben County Manager Jack Wheeler; Schuyler County Administrator Tim O'Hearn; Tioga County Chair Martha Sauerbrey; Chenango County Chair Laurence Wilcox; Delaware County Chair Tina Mole; City of Binghamton Mayor Rich David; City of Ithaca Mayor Svante Myrick.Cuomo was also asked about new executive order that requires nursing home and long-term care facility personnel to be tested for COVID-19 two times a week. He said his administration will help any that can't comply."We will work with any region that says they don’t have the capacity for two tests per week," he said.The facilities must provide the state Department of Health with a plan for testing that includes their needs for state help, if they have any.