New York Coronavirus Cases Double: Lawmakers Vote On Paid Leave

ALBANY, NY — New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and state legislators will vote on bills concerning paid sick leave and additional quarantine leave measure as the number of cases of the new coronavirus in New York jumped to 2,382 as of Wednesday morning, up 1,008 from Tuesday, a function of expanded testing as well as spread.

The bills are expected to pass.

The quarantine leave bill is one measure among several, including an order announced Wednesday for all non-essential businesses in New York to have at least half their employees work from home.

The general paid sick leave measure applies to all New York businesses and the specifics depend on the company's size.

Small businesses with four employees or less and net income of under $1 million must provide at least five annual unpaid days of sick leave. Any business with five to 99 workers or over $1 million in annual income is required to provide five days of paid sick leave annually. Business with more than 100 employees have to offer seven days of paid sick leave.

"The paid sick leave measure we've agreed to today expands those protections to all New Yorkers because no New Yorker should lose their job or income for following a critical public health order,” Cuomo said.

The temporary coronavirus quarantine rules would apply to employees under quarantine or isolation orders for COVID-19 and would be:

• Employers with 10 or fewer employees and a net income less than $1 million will provide job protection for the duration of the quarantine order and guarantee their workers access to paid family leave and disability benefits for the period of quarantine including wage replacement for their salaries up to $150,000.
• Employers with 11-99 employees and employers with 10 or fewer employees and a net income greater than $1 million will provide at least five days of paid sick leave, job protection for the duration of the quarantine order, and guarantee their workers access to paid family leave and disability benefits for the period of quarantine including wage replacement for their salaries up to $150,000.
• Employers with 100 or more employees, as well as all public employers regardless of number of employees will provide at least 14 days of paid sick leave and guaranteed job protection for the duration of the quarantine order.

The quarantine paid leave rules would be effective immediately.

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Coronavirus in New York and beyond:

• Coronavirus Live U.S. Updates: Canada Border Closes, Schools Shut
• Non-Essential NY Businesses Told Half Of Workers Must Stay Home
• Coronavirus Closes Nyack Market, Some Vendors Taking Orders