COVID-19 Digest: April 6

COVID-19 Digest: April 6

April 06, 2020 • Estimated Reading Time: 9 minutes

COVID-19 Digest

Monday, April 6, 2020Tech:NYC’s COVID-19 resource guide is available here. It’s updated daily with the latest info from across the NYC tech sector. Please share this with your networks and encourage your colleagues to sign up here. If there are other topics or resources that would be helpful in future editions of this digest, please let us know here.

The Latest in New York

The latest: Gov. Cuomo extends state-wide closures for at least two weeks; today’s poll on Zoom in schools; social distancing fines to double; toilet paper supply chain 101. Confirmed Cases: 

  • New York State: 130,689 (+27,826)

  • New York City: 72,181 (+15,022)

  • Statewide Fatalities: 4,758 (+1,823)

  • Patients Discharged: 13,366 (+4,480)

*New confirmed case counts are in the aggregate as of our last digest.

General Updates:

  • Gov. Cuomo announced today that schools and non-essential businesses will remain closed until April 29. (Tweet)

  • 600,000 N95 masks from the federal government arrived in NYC this morning, adding to the 200,000 delivered on Friday. Mayor de Blasio says that’s enough for this week, but other PPE is still needed. (CNBC)

  • Gov. Cuomo signed an executive order to allow medical students slated for graduation this spring to begin practicing now. (New York Post)

  • There are early signs that New York cases are reaching a plateau, but Gov. Cuomo clarified that the curve is flattening at a point that is currently a massive strain on the state’s healthcare system. (New York Times)

  • In unwelcome news for canines across the city, NYC dog parks are now closed as part of social distancing measures. (New York Post)

Request: While NYC has undertaken significant efforts to provide technology devices to students, there is still a large number of students lacking the tools they need. Two requests for devices that we recently received: 30 laptops/tablets for students in one Manhattan public school and 30 laptops/tablets for students at a private college in NYC. If you can help get 10 or more devices, please get in touch with us here. 

Survey

Today's flash poll: The New York City Department of Education has barred teachers and administrators from using Zoom for remote learning over concerns about privacy. Many principals and elected officials have disagreed with this decision, since teachers have been using Zoom since schools moved to remote learning and students have already adjusted to the platform. How do you feel about NYC DOE’s decision banning Zoom’s use?

  • *|SURVEY: Agree|*

  • *|SURVEY: Disagree|*

What You Need to Know

EMPLOYER UPDATES:

In the last week, we’ve heard from many companies who have shifted their WFH policies in light of updated guidance from New York State’s PAUSE order and other recommendations. Here’s a snapshot of how some of our members are implementing changes:

  • Bitly: mandatory WFH until April 30th, with the likelihood of extending.

  • Bloomberg: extending mandatory WFH until further notice.

  • CaaStle: extending WFH until May 15th. 

  • Casebook PBC: extending WFH until May 15th, following New York State guidance on the best time to reopen the office.

  • Chartbeat: mandatory WFH until April 30th, with the likelihood of extending.

  • Grey Horse: mandatory WFH until at least May 1st.

  • Justworks: extending to mandatory WFH indefinitely.

  • MongoDB: mandatory WFH for the NYC office until April 30th, with the likelihood of extending.

  • Oden Technologies: extending WFH until April 30th, reassessing every two weeks.

  • Salesforce: extending mandatory WFH until May 3rd for most global offices.

  • Trail of Bits: mandatory WFH until at least 15 consecutive days of declines in new COVID-19 infections.

  • Zillow: extending WFH until at least May 1st for all locations.

If your company has made changes to its policies, send us your updates here.

WORKPLACE TOOLS:

  • Betaworks: launching a free beta version of Circles, a new peer-to-peer mentorship program for curated cohorts of founders and company leaders to meet in mentor-led support sessions.

  • Feedback.VC: a guide for budget-strapped startups on spending strategy.

  • Headspace: partnering with New York State to offer free meditation and mindfulness resources.

  • Work-Bench: a guide of resources on enterprise sales during COVID-19 and previous downturns. 

  • Reminder: Tech:NYC’s COVID-19 resource guide is available here.

  • Request: please let us know as your work-from-home policies are extended or what plans your companies have as they are reassessed. Sharing this information is helpful to companies and employees across the NYC ecosystem and can be kept anonymous.

  • Read: Don’t Freak Out About Quarantine Screen Time (New York Times)

POLICY:

  • Late Friday night, the Treasury Department updated its rules regarding the “affiliation” of private entities, but kept in place the same rules that would deny many startups from receiving loans. (TechCrunch)

  • New York State has cancelled high school Regents exams scheduled for June due to the coronavirus shutdown. (New York Daily News) 

  • Gov. Cuomo announced an increase in the maximum fine — from $500 to $1,000 — for failing to abide by social distancing protocols. (Twitter)

EVENTS:

  • April 7: Webinar: Public Health in the Era of COVID-19. Hosted by New York Hall of Science. (Details)

  • April 8: Virtual: Leveraging AI and Data to Fight Pandemics, with Applied XL, STAT News, and GovLab. Hosted by Newlab. (Details)

  • April 8: Virtual: Democratizing Access to Finance in Unprecedented Times, with Blend. Hosted by Change Catalyst. (Details)

  • April 9: Virtual: Weathering the Storm: 2008 & Now, with MobleIron co-founder Bob Tinker. Hosted by Work-Bench. (Details)

  • April 9: Virtual: Startup Leadership During Uncertain Times, with Wethos and Codestream. Hosted by Stacklist. (Details)

  • April 10: Virtual: Learn from Home Day. Hosted by Codecademy. (Details)

  • April 15: Webinar: How to Run Remote Team Retrospectives. Hosted by Carbon Five. (Details)

Toilet Paper Supply Chain 101:

  • The TP shortage isn’t just about panic hoarding — it’s also about bottlenecks in the supply chain. (NPR)

  • This is a great take on what everyone is getting wrong about the TP shortage — and it isn’t about hoarding. (Medium)

  • Why one economist says not to worry about how quickly the shelves in the TP aisle are emptying. (New York Magazine)

  • How the “beer game” helps retailers solve the TP crisis. (Bloomberg)

  • And all of this begs one question: is it time for Americans to embrace the bidet? (New York Times)

When In Doubt

Check these sources for verified information from government agencies and public health authorities: