NY Extends Designation of COVID-19 as ‘Highly Contagious Communicable Disease,’ Continuing Employer Obligations Under HERO Act By Jerrold Goldberg on October 5, 2021 Posted in coronavirus, Featured, GT Alert, Labor, Legislation, New York, Workplace Safety On Sept. 30, 2021, New York Gov. Hochul issued an order extending until Oct. 31, 2021, the designation of COVID-19 as a “highly contagious communicable disease.” Continue reading the full GT Alert.