Rockland Coronavirus: Cosmetics Firm Eager To Re-Open

CONGERS, NY — For more than 40 years, Intercos Group has specialized in color cosmetics, nail polish, skincare and personal care, forecasting trends and creating products worldwide. For 20 years, Intercos America has had a plant and office in Rockland County.

Forced to close when New York ordered non-essential businesses to keep all staff home, the company had to temporarily lay off 204 workers in its plant in Congers. The cosmetic manufacturer has 352 employees at its two sites in Congers and West Nyack.

"Everybody that can work from home is working from home. Unfortunately factory people cannot," CEO Morena Genziana told Patch.

Meanwhile, the orders are piling up, she said. "As soon as we can reopen we will call them back. We can't wait to call them back."

Before the state-ordered shutdown, there had been no cases of the new coronavirus at the company, she said. As soon as the Centers for Disease Control issued guidelines for manufacturers, Intercos officials had modified procedures at the plant.

Since the shutdown, no one has been reported with COVID-19, she said, "And we're monitoring it very, very closely."