Elmira Star-Gazette
Businesses in Elmira and elsewhere affected by state-mandated COVID-19 restrictions received good news when Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday announced he is lifting all orange and yellow zone designations statewide.
Cuomo in October imposed the restrictions on specific areas due to skyrocketing positive cases of the coronavirus.
Parts of Chemung County including the City of Elmira, Village of Elmira Heights and Village and Town of Horseheads were included in an orange zone, meaning restaurants were limited to takeout and delivery only and other businesses considered nonessential, including gyms, nail salons and barber shops, had to close.
Gyms and fitness centers were eventually allowed to reopen with limited capacity, and personal care businesses could reopen as long as employees providing services were tested weekly for COVID-19.