Coronavirus (COVID-19) Updates March 29th

MARCH 29TH RESOURCES AND UPDATES:

 

All in-person HRA appointments have been canceled, and no negative actions will be taken on a client's case. For the safety of clients and staff, they are asking all New Yorkers who need services to do as much as they can through ACCESS HRA and by calling 311. You can download the ACCESS HRA mobile app or visit nyc.gov/accesshra or go to nyc.gov/hra and click on the ‘Locations’ tab for more information on the consolidated HRA office locations.

The first 1,000-bed temporary hospital is now complete at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center and will open this Monday, March 30. CB8 thanks FEMA, the Army Corps of Engineers, the National Guard, and the Javits Center staff.

The 1000-bed hospital ship the USNS Comfort is expected to arrive March 30. It will be used to treat non-Coronoa virus cases, freeing up hospitals to treat those infected with the virus..

All non-essential construction must shut down.
Emergency construction, including projects necessary to protect health and safety of occupants or to continue a project if it would be unsafe to allow it to remain undone. MBP Gale Brewer joined with other public officials in advocating for this change. You can read their letter to Governor Cuomo here.

The CDC issued a domestic travel advisory for NY, NJ, and CT:

“Due to extensive community transmission of COVID -19 in the area, CDC urges residents of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut to refrain from non-essential domestic travel for 14 days effective immediately.  This Domestic Travel Advisory does not apply to employees of critical infrastructure industries, including but not limited to trucking, public health professionals, financial services, and food supply. These employees of critical infrastructure, as defined by the Department of Homeland Security, have a special responsibility to maintain normal work schedules. The Governors of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut will have full discretion to implement this Domestic Travel Advisory.”

NYC DOE Childcare services now available to grocery, pharmacy and food workers!

Beginning March 27th 2020, the NYC Department of Education (DOE) Regional Enrichment Centers(RECs) will now also serve grocery, food and pharmacy workers.
For our community members who are serving in these vital roles and have no other means of childcare, the DOE is setting up Regional Enrichment Centers (RECs). RECs are open and operate from 7:30am to 6:00pm (Monday-Friday), and will ensure that students have access to remote learning as well as various art, music, and other activities.

If your child is a New York City resident and you would like to enroll in one of these centers, please complete this REC Enrollment Form. Please complete this form for each child you are seeking to enroll. You will then receive an email confirming your child’s center assignment.

The nonprofit expensify.org will reimburse SNAP participants $50 after they use their EBT card for approved purchases and submit a receipt. They are allocating these funds to help families in need purchase essential groceries during the COVID-19 outbreak. There's no "catch" and the money is directly deposited into the participant's bank account. Visit Expensify.org/hunger for more information.

The Right to Counsel NYC Coalition has created a FAQ that hopefully answers questions about the Eviction Moratorium. You can also find this online here.

Food Bank for NYC has created a website for information on their COVID-19 operations and how the public can help here.

Union Settlement's Meals on Wheels program still delivering 475 meals across our community. If you'd like to volunteer to deliver meals, please fill out the form here.

Verizon is matching Spectrum and other cable providers' offer for free internet for households with school-age children. They are also providing  other learning tools and some premium TV channels offered to customers at no additional cost. To read the release, clicking here.

Con Ed has halted all meter reading and installation of smart meters; stopped shutoffs of electric, natural gas or steam service due to non-payment resulting from the health crisis; waived new late-payment charges; and suspended the fee charged to a customer who is unable to grant access to their property. They WILL continue to shut off service when there is a safety issue. Residential customers can choose one of the alternate ways to pay their bill, including online at My Account, by mail with a check or money order, or by phone at 1-888-925-5016.

Aging Connect is the New York City's direct link to aging services. Call 212-AGING-NYC to speak with an Aging Specialist and learn about services and support available to older adults and their caregivers, as well as volunteer opportunities.

The TLC has established the NYC Food Delivery Driver Portal. This allows the City to pay hired-car drivers to deliver food to homebound New Yorkers. Requirements apply.

NYS COVID-19 Sick Leave Application

Dept of Labor Complaint Process Related to COVID-19, click here.

Reminder that retaliation and discrimination are illegal. Created by the NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP), this publication includes a summary of City labor laws for employers and employees as you deal with the impact of COVID-19 on your workplace.

Recreation and Outdoor Space

Park Avenue between 28th and 34th Street is closed to vehicles between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m., March 27-30.

The NYC Parks tennis season for 2020 is delayed until further notice.

For all updates on park service changes and closures, go to: https://www.nycgovparks.org/about/health-and-safety-guide/coronavirus.

The FDNY begs us: Only call 911 in a TRUE emergency when you need help right away!

NYS has created an Emotional Support Hotline--844-863-9314

New Yorkers without health insurance can apply for a health plan. If you recently lost employer coverage, you must apply within 60 days of losing that coverage. Because of loss of income, New Yorkers may also be eligible for Medicaid, the Essential Plan or Child Health Plus. Read more, here.

ThriveNYC's new guide to mental health services New Yorkers can access while staying home (online or by phone) is now posted. 

For tips on running errands, click here.

How to Clean Your Home from the Virus, read more here.

Because we all need hope and warmth, the New York Times is looking for videos showing acts of kindness. For more information https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/27/us/share-your-video-kindness-coronavirus-outbreak.html

MORE WAYS YOU CAN HELP

EDC launched a new website this weekend for local NYC businesses that want to support the COVID-19 emergency response effort. If you can help, fill out the form here.

Interested in volunteering? Isaacs Center needs volunteers in the kitchen and to help with meal delivery. Contact them at [email protected]

THE NEW YORK ACADEMY OF MEDICINE has created a “What can I do?” page, click here.

Our healthcare professionals are on the front lines of this crisis and we thank them for all that they do. In the event that the novel coronavirus crisis worsens, the State needs the help of qualified retired health professionals and related professionals to supplement our hospital capacity on a temporary basis to treat seriously ill coronavirus patients including those that may need to be intubated. The NYS Dept. of Health will recertify individuals for the purpose. You can apply here.

New York State has offered to pay a premium for protective medical equipment like gloves, gowns, and masks. If you are a business that does not currently manufacture these types of products, but have the capacity, New York State wants to hear from you. Interested businesses can send an email to [email protected]. 

 COVID-19 has caused a public health emergency in New York City. You can view resources available to support those affected by this emergency in all five boroughs here.

Governor Cuomo is calling on health care professionals, schools of public health or medicine and personal protective equipment product providers and manufacturers to come forward to support the state’s response. Find out how you can help here.

Other volunteer opportunities

Positive Connections

On Friday, March 27, at 7 p.m., New Yorkers applauded for two minutes to thank essential workers.

CB8 would again like to extend our deepest gratitude to health care workers and the essential businesses and workers who save lives and provide what we need to get through these days with hope and resilience.

New Yorkers have a reputation for strength in times of crisis and that resilience has been on display in the last few weeks. The Office of Assembly Member Seawright would like to hear your stories of goodwill and positivity in confronting the challenges of COVID-19. Please email your stories to [email protected].  They may be featured in her newsletter.

UPDATES FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES

Applications are open now for the Small Business Continuity Fund here. The Fund, a public-private partnership between Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses, Tapestry, Inc.’s Coach Foundation and Pursuit, offers loans of up to $75,000 to small businesses in New York City as they deal with various challenges in response to the novel coronavirus. To qualify, businesses must:

  • Be located within the five boroughs of New York City
  • Demonstrate that the COVID-19 outbreak caused at least a 25% decrease in revenue
  • Employ 99 employees or fewer in total across all locations
  • Demonstrate ability to repay the loan
  • Have no outstanding tax liens or legal judgements

As part of the application, businesses will be required to demonstrate a revenue decrease by providing documentation such as: point-of-sales reports, bank statements, quarterly sales tax filings, 2019 tax returns, or CPA-certified profit & loss statements. Goldman Sachs Foundation will provide a grant to support technical assistance and capacity-building for the Small Business Continuity Fund.

Insurance premiums may be waived or deferred.For a 90-day period, New Yorkers experiencing financial hardship due to COVID-19 may defer paying life insurance premiums. Late payments will be payable over a one-year period. Additionally, consumers and small businesses experiencing Coronavirus-related financial hardship may defer paying premiums for property and casualty insurance for a 60-day period. This includes auto, homeowners, renters and other kinds of insurance. (No late fees will be assessed and there will be no negative impact to your credit.)

The City's Workforce1 Career Center launched a virtual center to help New Yorkers prepare for and connect to jobs across New York City. Current employment opportunities include Stop & Shop, Fresh Direct, and PBM Guardian Industry Services.

Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act

The International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) and The National Retail Federation have published summaries of some of the key provisions of the CARES Act that was just passed. To view the ICSC summary, please click here. To view the NRF summary, please click here.

The New York State Department of Labor's Shared Work Program may provide an alternative to your business for laying off workers. Please watch the video which explains how it works. To learn more, please click here.

The Accessories Council is presenting a free webinar on the Navigating the New Retail Landscape, Tuesday March 31 at 8 a.m. To R.S.V.P. and get a link to the presentation, please email [email protected]

A new Center for an Urban Future study features ideas from two dozen small business owners and experts with their ideas on how to address the crisis, including idease on rent, FEMA support of local businesses, and a cap on third-party delivery commissions

Read the full report, and all the suggestions: Supporting Small Business Through Coronavirus.

UPDATES FROM THE NYPD

 

Dear Friends and neighbors,

On behalf of all the members of the 19th Precinct, we hope you, your employees, and families are doing well and staying healthy during these trying times. We remind you that the NYPD is here for you and ready to respond 24/7 should you need us, and are on patrol ensuring our community remains safe. Your police can’t stay home, because unfortunately criminals won't and we proudly serve at the front line for our city’s safety.

In order to maintain a safe and healthy community we need your help! We have received several complaints via social media, 9-1-1 calls, and phone calls directly to our precinct, regarding establishments who are serving food and alcohol to-go. The complaints are against locations that have garnered sizable crowds gathering outside, waiting for pickups and/or socializing, and in some cases consuming alcoholic beverages.

We remind you that consumption of alcohol in public is still ILLEGAL and can NOT be permitted (Section 10-125 of the NYC Administrative Code). If your business experiences lines or crowds, we implore you to correct the condition on your own, and if you are serving alcoholic beverages to-go please remind your customers that public consumption of alcohol on streets, especially on sidewalks in front of your establishment, will absolutely not be tolerated, and we will have no choice but to enforce this if not corrected on its own.

We do not in any way want to encourage people to loiter or linger anywhere, and must try to adhere to health officials advice to encourage social distancing to contain the spread. Please help us ensure any lines formed are orderly, customers are adhering to social distancing guidelines of at least 6 feet apart, discourage any gatherings in front of your establishment, and ensure NO alcohol is being consumed. Our officers will continue to check in on all establishments to ensure compliance. Should you require our assistance with any disorderly persons or groups, please call 911 immediately and we will dispatch officers to assist. WE ARE HERE FOR YOU.

We will all get through this together, as New Yorkers have proven time after time in moments of crisis. If you need anything from us please do not hesitate to let us know, we are here for you. We have ATTACHED a sign reminding customers of open container laws, that you can choose to display as a reminder to your customers.  Lastly, to keep up to date with information, connect with us on Twitter and Facebook @NYPD19Pct.

Thank you for your cooperation. Stay safe, stay healthy.

Sincerely,

NYPD 19th Precinct

UPDATES FROM LOCAL HOSPITALS

NORTHWELL HEALTH Lenox Hill Hospital: COVID-19 Update  

As we enter another week during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Lenox Hill Hospital remains a resource for the entire community. In response to the COVID-19 health crisis, we continue to provide our patients the best care possible, protect the wellbeing of our healthcare workers and the public at-large, and work to help control the spread of the virus.

Lenox Hill Hospital, and the entire Northwell Health system, is here to help New Yorkers get through anything, including the coronavirus. Retired Northwell health professionals are also stepping up to the challenge. You can watch a CNN segment spotlighting the retirees who have volunteered to serve amid the coronavirus outbreak here. 

3 Things You Should Know:

  • FAQ: Visit our FAQ page to find out how coronavirus impacts you.
  • Northwell Visitation Guidelines: In accordance with the New York State Department of Health, Northwell has temporarily suspended all visitation at our hospitals. Limited exceptions can be found on the above link.
  • Getting Tested: You can be tested if you're at high risk for severe reaction to coronavirus, or you have symptoms after close contact with an infected individual. If you have no symptoms, you should stay home. 

Expert Advice on Coronavirus:

The spread of the coronavirus has most certainly changed our lives—so our experts are here to give you some valuable advice on how to stay calm, stay informed, and stay well:

Find more resources at Northwell’s dedicated coronavirus website.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) FAQs & Resources

To get regular updates on the latest developments with coronavirus in New York City text COVID to 692-692. You will receive regular SMS texts with the latest news and developments. Please check nyc.gov/health/coronavirus for the latest updates

If you are experiencing stress or feel anxious, contact NYC Well at 888-NYC-WELL (888-692- 9355) or text WELL to 65173. NYC Well is a confidential help line that is staffed 24/7 by trained counselors who can provide brief supportive therapy, crisis counseling, and connections to behavioral health treatment, in more than 200 languages.

Additional resources:

CENSUS 2020

U.S. Census Bureau has made some necessary changes to help keep residents safe while still working to ensure a complete census count. This includes extending the national deadline for the count from July 31 to August 14 and postponing all door-to-door outreach campaigns until May. With the majority of our businesses and libraries closed across the state, this gives local communities more time to adjust their outreach plans and helps prevent our state from being put at an unfair disadvantage.

Fill out your Census at My2020Census.gov OR by phone in these languages: