Information on Face Coverings & Additional Protections for the NYCHA Community

April 20, 2020April 23, 2020 LaToya

Dear Residents,

The health and safety of our residents and staff is our top priority. Thank you for your ongoing partnership as we work together to address the challenges presented by the Coronavirus pandemic.

We are working around the clock to provide you and your family with essential services and communicate any information that may be helpful and relevant. As the situation develops around COVID-19, we continue to modify our policies according to the guidance we’re receiving from ofﬁcials like the NYC Health Department and other government partners.

Face Coverings

Governor Cuomo issued important Executive Orders this week about the use of face coverings.

The Governor issued an Executive Order that takes effect on Friday, April 17, 2020, at 8pm which states that any individual, including NYCHA residents, who is over age 2 and able to medically tolerate a face covering will be required to cover their nose and mouth with a mask or cloth face covering when in a public place and unable to maintain, or when not maintaining, social distance (at a distance of at least six feet). A face covering can include anything that covers your nose and mouth, including dust masks, scarves and bandanas.

You and your family must follow this order when in public spaces and public areas on NYCHA developments, such as hallways, elevators, lobbies, building entrance areas, management ofﬁces, playgrounds (which are currently closed), seating areas, and pathways.

In addition, the Governor and the City issued another Order requiring all essential employees to wear a face covering that covers the mouth and nose when in direct contact with members of the public – that is, when employees are within six feet or less of any other person in the workplace, including coworkers and residents.

In accordance with this Executive Order, NYCHA is issuing face coverings to all employees working in NYCHA developments and ofﬁces where staff may come into direct contact with any other staff member or members of the public, including residents. This includes apartments, public spaces, management ofﬁce waiting areas, and outdoor areas such as building entrances, playgrounds, seating areas, and pathways.

The purpose of this face covering is to prevent its wearer from potentially spreading COVID- 19 to others. It is not considered to be a substitute to social distancing and hand hygiene.

You should always practice social distancing at a minimum distance of six feet and hand hygiene as the primary measures for protecting yourself against COVID-19.

Additional Protections for Residents and Employees

In addition to wearing face coverings, NYCHA staff visiting residents’ apartments to perform services and repairs will also take other precautionary measures, including asking residents about their health and maintaining at last six feet of social distance from other individuals in the apartment. We also ask that residents wear face coverings to protect NYCHA staff when they are doing work in your apartment.

We recommend that residents also ask staff members about their health before allowing them to enter their apartment. If any member of the household is not feeling well, NYCHA is requesting that family members remain in a separate room with the door closed until the repair is completed. If a separate room is not available, we are asking staff and residents to maintain at least a six-foot distance from each other until the repair is completed.

Staff may also open an apartment window to increase ventilation during the repair.

If the resident chooses to not allow a staff member into their apartment, or to follow these instructions, staff will work with their supervisor to reschedule the appointment.

For the latest updates pertaining to the COVID-19 crisis, please visit our website by clicking here. We will continue to communicate with you whenever new information is available.

Thank you. We will overcome these challenges together, and we will come out of this stronger than ever.

Sincerely,

Greg Russ
Chair & Chief Executive Ofﬁcer

Vito Mustaciuolo
General Manager