Coronavirus (COVID-19) Updates June 22nd

JUNE 22nd RESOURCES AND UPDATES:

New York City entered Phase Two of reopening today. Industries included in Phase Two are: 

  • In-person retail 
  • Hair salons and barbershops
  • Real estate
  • Offices
  • Vehicle sales, leases, and rentals 

All of these businesses must operate at half capacity and with mandatory COVID safeguards in place, including social distancing and facial coverings. Business guidance can be found here.

The City's Worker Hotline is open for New Yorkers who feel that they are working in unsafe conditions. Workers who call 311 will be connected to the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection for immediate assistance. Worker guidance is also available at nyc.gov/coronavirus.

Primary Day is THIS Tuesday, June 23; polling places are open from 6 am to 9 pm. Absentee ballots must be mailed with a postmark of June 23 or earlier.

Remember that wearing masks is required to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 and that the virus is by no means vanquished. Only by remaining vigilant and by being smart can we ensure continued progress during the reopening process.

Eviction Moratorium, Legal Assistance, and Rent Arrears 

  • All pending evictions orders are suspended until further notice, as ordered by Chief Administrative Judge Marks on March 16, 2020 and June 18, 2020, and no tenant may be evicted at this time and until there is a change to the order of the court.
  • NYC Housing Court will accept new eviction filings effective June 20, 2020.  Landlords will only be permitted to file new eviction cases by mailing in to the housing court.  Tenants who are served with papers for an eviction case do not need to visit the courthouse to respond.  Nevertheless, unrepresented landlords or tenants who come to the courthouse to file a case or answer will be assisted.   
  • All new eviction petitions are required to include a notice to tenants that they do not have to visit the courthouse to respond to their eviction case.  The notice includes information about how a tenant can respond to the petition by phone, and it will include information about access to free legal help, including the legal services phone number operated by the nonprofit Housing Court Answers - (718) 557-1379 - in partnership with HRA’s Office of Civil Justice and the Office of Court Administration.  Housing Court Answers provides callers with basic legal information and connection with HRA's free legal services.  Given the impacts on health and stability faced by many New Yorkers since the start of the pandemic, the court will not be defaulting tenants who fail to respond to an eviction petition.
  • New eviction cases filed with the court must certify that the eviction is not prohibited by: the federal CARES Act moratorium on evictions, which prohibits evictions of tenants in public housing, those with Section 8 rental vouchers or tenants who live in buildings with federally backed mortgages or funding until at least July 24, 2020; the Governor’s Executive Order which suspends evictions for nonpayment of rent against tenants eligible for unemployment insurance or benefits or who have been financially impacted by COVID through August 20, 2020; and all applicable court administrative orders.  Eviction filings that do not meet these requirements will be not be accepted at court.
  • Until further notice, the court is not scheduling conferences or hearings in pending eviction cases in housing court in which a tenant is not currently represented by counsel.  All eviction cases in which a tenant is currently unrepresented by legal counsel are stayed for the time being.
  • If the court’s administrative order changes in the future to permit evictions to proceed, HRA’s Office of Civil Justice will work with City-funded legal services providers and the court to assign attorneys through the NYC right-to-counsel law to any unrepresented tenant who appears in court in response to a warrant of eviction.  OCJ will be prioritizing the assignment of these cases since they are at risk of eviction.
  • Currently, HRA is ready to receive applications for emergency rental assistance for those in need and in most cases the entire process can be done without a visit to a local HRA office.

A reminder that HPD has launched a streamlined NYC Housing Connect portal, New Yorkers central resource for finding and applying for affordable housing. The new system streamlines the application process, provides New Yorkers with a clear picture of the opportunities for which they can apply, and includes more types of housing than ever before.

Playgrounds have also opened as we enter Phase 2. Social distancing ambassadors will monitor crowding, distribute face coverings, and encourage hygiene. Team sports (such as basketball, football, softball and soccer) are not yet permitted. Dog runs remain closed.

For a worldwide look at the virus, click here.

This year’s U.S. Open tennis championship will be held in Queens as scheduled, from August 31 - September 13, but without fans. The Yankees and Mets will resume their spring training in New York. The teams will hold their training at Yankee Stadium and Citi Field, respectively. The Mets will host a soft opening this week for players who want to begin preparing. Both teams will work with the State to ensure proper health and safety protocols.

Our Town reports that Friday was the last of Cuomo’s daily briefings, which began at the start of the pandemic, though the governor said he will “do briefings as necessary.”

For indoor religious and funeral services, during Phase One reopening, congregant/attendee capacity was limited to 10 people. During Phases Two (starting Monday) and Three, occupancy is up but cannot exceed 25% of the maximum occupancy as set by certificates of occupancy and fire safety regulations, according to Gov. Cuomo.

The governor also announced that the state would be accelerating $2 billion in MTA capital projects while MTA ridership was down, continuing work on Moynihan Station opposite Penn Station and fast-tracking construction at LaGuardia airport.

Rents are now frozen on one-year leases and the first year of two-year leases. During the second year of two-year agreements, landlords can bump rent up 1%. The changes will go into effect for leases beginning between October 1 and September 30, 2021.

Peer-Peer Wellness Check for Veterans. See https://thrivenyc.cityofnewyork.us/mission-vetcheck

The ULURP suspension has been extended again for another week

The New York Academy of Science is presenting a webinar on Pandemic Diseases Preparedness and Response from 10:30-4. There’s a fee. For more information and to register, click here.

On June 16,  Manhattan Borough Historian Rob Snyder and Borough President Gale Brewer’s office hosted “Pandemic History from the Bottom Up: A Webinar with Oral Historians and Archivists.” If you couldn’t see it, click on the title to watch the YouTube recording.

For those interested in learning more about existing projects or starting their own, visit here to see a resource guide prepared from the webinar.

 A video of the Manhattan Borough Board meeting is available on YouTube.

Gale Brewer’s office announced that her annual professional development classes for Community Board members-- and the public-- will be held online this year, naturally. The first three have been scheduled; click the hyperlinked titles below to register. As more classes are added, she will post them on her website here.

Education/Parenting

The State will issue guidance to colleges and universities to allow some in-person instruction and on-campus housing for the fall semester. Campuses must develop a plan which meets the guidance, and file it with the State.

For advice on using public bathrooms during the virus, click here.

Chalkbeat.org, the nonprofit educational news site, is allowing a Student Takeover this week to elevate young people’s voices, featuring commentary, art and essays from students on the current climate and actions against racial injustice.

As the City plans for students to return to school in the fall, they have created a short, anonymous survey for families to share their priorities and concerns. All parents/guardians of students in grades 3K - 12, and students in grades 6-12 are invited to take the survey at schools.nyc.gov/returntoschool2020 or call 311.

Entertainment/Distractions

With New Yorkers unable to gather at the Delacorte Theater for Free Shakespeare in the Park for the first summer in nearly six decades, WNYC and The Public Theater have joined forces to reimagine this beloved summer tradition as a radio play that speaks to this current moment in our nation’s history. For four consecutive evenings, beginning July 13, WNYC will air a serialized Richard II, directed by Saheem Ali and featuring André Holland in the title role.

RICHARD II will be broadcast over four nights from Monday, July 13 through Thursday, July 16 at 8:00 p.m. EST on WNYC 93.9 FM and AM 820 for listeners in the New York and tri-state area and will stream at WNYC.org. WNYC will also make the series available as a podcast for on-demand listening. For more information, click here.

For a list of the Metropolitan Opera’s nightly opera streams, click here.

For families, these virtual stage options are worth looking into.  Click here.

WAYS YOU CAN HELP

THE CITY is asking folks who know any New York City residents who have died of COVID-19 to fill out a simple form to tell them about the lives of those we’ve lost. Their goal is to put as many names, faces and details to the numbers as possible. You’ll find more here — including the form.

Donate blood. The New York Blood Center says that levels of blood are dangerously low. The center is hosting a blood drive at MetLife Stadium on Thursday, May 28 from 12 to 8 p.m. To make an appointment to donate, visit nybc.org or call 1.800.933.2566. Appointments are strongly recommended.

If you have recovered from COVID-19, you may be able to save lives by contacting the state to donate blood. People who have recovered from the virus may have convalescent plasma in their blood, which has antibodies against the virus and could help with the development of a treatment. More information about how to donate is available here.

Support local businesses by buying gift cards. We have posted links to sites selling gift cards. Another site selling gift cards to restaurants, barber shops, and events like ghost hunts, and museums, see SupportLocal at https://supportlocal.usatoday.com/cities/

New York City Service is looking for volunteers to help those affected by COVID-19, click here.

New York State has provided a form for the donation of goods, services, or space. To access the form, click here.

The dedicated staff at the Stanley Isaacs Center, 415 E. 93 St., needs help supporting their older adult clients through meals and case management services. Interested in volunteering? Contact [email protected]

Donate blood. Blood is urgently needed. Please go to https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/node/1546 to make an appointment (walk-ins) are no longer allowed and for more information.

Donate to the First Responders Fund. The fund will assist COVID-19 healthcare workers and first responders with expenses and costs, including child care. Donations can be made electronically at www.healthresearch.org/donation-form/ or by check, mailed to "Health Research, Inc., 150 Broadway, Suite 560, Menands, NY 12204." (For checks, the donor should specify the donation is for "COVID-19 NYS Emergency Response.")

Complete your Census form.  Census responses can't be used for any purpose other than tallying up population-- it's the law. And no enumerators will be knocking on doors today. So, please, if you haven't yet done so, take the time to fill in your form at www.my2020census.gov.  New York City’s response rate is 10% behind the overall U.S. rate. We need every dollar and every Congressional seat. These depend on the census count. Please complete your form.

FINANCIAL AND LOCAL BUSINESSES UPDATES

As of Monday (6/22) the City will allow restaurants that self-certify (and follow guidelines) to serve food outside on sidewalks, backyards, patios, and parking spaces by their storefront. This is a welcome lifeline for our city’s restaurants-- but there are so many details the Mayor must work out.

Restaurants must self-certify by visiting this site. See an Open Restaurants FAQ here (PDF).

Rules for compliance for restaurants using outdoor space under the new program include:

Outdoor seating on sidewalks may not exceed the business’ frontage width.

Seating cannot extend past the eight feet depth of the curb lane, and it cannot block:

  • Bus stops
  • No Standing/No Stopping Anytime zones
  • Doorways
  • FDNY access (e.g. within 15 feet of a fire hydrant)

There must be an eight-foot clear path free of obstructions between the seating and the curb.

  • Social distancing, hygiene and other health guidance must be followed.
  • Restaurants must provide their own tables, chairs and traffic barriers.
  • Restaurants must adhere to all local, state and federal requirements relating to accessibility for people with disabilities, including path of travel, minimum table heights, and clearance requirements.

Customers are not permitted to gather outside of establishments. Businesses that repeatedly fail to comply will have their Open Restaurant authorization revoked by DOT, and will be referred to the SLA.

Related: A group of NYC businesses have created Rebuild New York, an online platform for businesses citywide to discuss information and best practices for reopening.

The Department of Small Business Services (SBS) will work to ensure that the most up-to-date guidance and materials needed by small business owners for a safe phased-in reopening are readily available. The information will be housed on a centralized resource page with guidance and best practices for the restaurant industry across all five boroughs. SBS will also launch a reopening supplies marketplace for easy access to wholesalers selling PPE, gloves, sneeze guards and other equipment. Business owners can call a hotline at 1-888-SBS-4NYC to ask questions about this process.

Business guidance for Phase 2 of the state's reopening plan is available here.

The Department of Consumer and Worker Protection also has instituted a number of programs.NYC DCWP Worker Hotline launching today, Monday, June 8th. To reach this hotline, please call 311 and ask for "Worker protection hotline"

For information for workers, see One Pager for Workers: https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/dca/downloads/pdf/workers/NYC-Business-Reopening-WhatWorkersNeedToKnow.pdf

Business guidance for Phase 3 of the state's reopening plan is available here.

Reopening businesses must submit affirmations to confirm compliance with relevant reopening guidelines.

SBS Reopening Webinars

PPE for Small Businesses: NYC SBS coordinating with 70+ BIDs and Chambers of Commerce to provide 2 million pieces of PPE to small businesses citywide. Find a distribution partner near you at: Free Face Coverings for Small Businesses & Their Employees

If a store owner would like social distancing floor decals for inside the business (not on the sidewalks), please contact CB8 and we will send you some.

The City’s Dept. of Small Business Services has opened a hotline for reopening advice and resources: (888) SBS-4NYC (727-4692), and released an industry guide to Reopening NYC Businesses.

The City’s Department of Small Business Services has shared their new “Find a Job” page, which lists open employment listings from across NYC. Learn more and search the listings.

Both the City and State are hiring employees and supervisors for contact tracing: reaching out to the contacts of those diagnosed with COVID-19 to track the spread. Learn more here for the City (three types of contract tracer jobs along with many non-tracing jobs listed), and here for the State (contact tracers, team supervisors, and community support specialists).

The City's Workforce1 Career Center launched a Virtual Center(or call 718-960-2458) to help New Yorkers prepare for, and connect to, jobs across New York City's five boroughs and in every sector of the economy. Current employment opportunities include Stop & Shop, Fresh Direct & PBM Guardian Industry Services.

Jobs: Temporary opportunities are available by clicking here.

The New York State Department of Labor (DOL) has launched a new, streamlined application for New Yorkers to apply for COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Assistance without first needing to apply for Unemployment Insurance. Prior to today, New Yorkers were required to apply for regular Unemployment Insurance and be rejected before applying for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance. This new application, which aligns with updated federal policy, allows New Yorkers to simply fill out one form to get the correct benefits without requiring applicants to call the DOL. The agency has installed more than 3,100 representatives solely dedicated to answering unemployment benefit needs seven days a week. The DOL previously had 400 representatives in the call center. The DOL has paid out $2.2 billion in unemployment benefits to 1.1 million New Yorkers so far. The new form is available here.

NYC Health and Hospitals is hiring for several positions - patient transportation, clerical and cleaning staff. You can apply today at http://nyc.gov/getwork.
The Madison Avenue BID put together the official New York State reopening documents into an easily accessible primer, so please see below.

LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS' TELE-TOWN HALLS

On June 22 from 6 - 8 pm, Borough President Gale Brewer will host a Reopening Town Hallwith Community Boards 9, 10, 11 and 12. City agencies and organizations will discuss health care disparities in communities of color, reopening businesses and public spaces, preventing an eviction surge, and social distancing enforcement, as well as questions and feedback from the audience. Register and submit questions in advance here. The town hall will also stream live on her Facebook page

Coronavirus (COVID-19) FAQs & Resources

The State's Coronavirus Hotline is open 24 hours if you have any questions or concerns: 1-888-364-3065. **If you need help getting medical care, you can also call 311. New York City will provide care regardless of immigration status or ability to pay.

The NYP COVID Hotline 646-697-4000 can answer questions about COVID-19. This hotline is a public service to provide information only and not to diagnose, treat, or render a medical opinion. Their Coronavirus Frequently Asked Questions document is available on the NYP Coronavirus website.

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: