IMPLICATIONS FOR EMPLOYERS The announcement means that existing industry-based limitations applicable to offices, retail, food services, gyms and fitness centers, amusement and family entertainment, hair salons, offices, and other industries will no longer be in place. It does not specifically address whether vaccinated individuals will be subject to required social distancing. During the press conference at which he made the announcement, Gov. Cuomo suggested that there may be social distancing exemptions for vaccinated individuals, and also noted that the use of physical barriers would (as now) allow restaurants to set parties within six feet of each other. Gov. Cuomo also specifically proposed that businesses incentivize vaccination, for example by allocating more seats for vaccinated individuals while applying the six-foot rule (requiring six feet of social distancing between individuals/groups to non-vaccinated individuals. The example raises the prospect that the six-foot distancing rule may only apply as to non-vaccinated individuals, though formal guidance is forthcoming and the state has not amended its social distancing rules to reflect this proposal.