COVID-19 Digest: July 27

COVID-19 Digest: July 27

July 27, 2020 • Estimated Reading Time: 9 minutes

COVID-19 Digest

Monday, July 27, 2020 

A special note from Julie Samuels, Executive Director:

Today, Tech:NYC’s COVID-19 Digest reaches a milestone: its 100th edition.

Back on March 9, we sent out our first newsletter. No one had all the answers then, but we knew that by sharing information across our network, we could help our community navigate these uncertain times. We may have more answers now, but also more questions. At a minimum, we’re starting to get a sense of how the virus has begun to fundamentally change our families, businesses, neighborhoods, and the entire economic outlook of our city.  

To mark the 100th edition of our COVID-19 Digest, we take a look back at just some of the ways Tech:NYC, the New York tech sector, and other city leaders helped New York remain resilient and united. Thank you for reading our newsletter and trusting us to get you the information you need.

The Latest in New York

Confirmed Cases: 

  • New York State: 412,344 (+608)

  • New York City: 224,051 (+290)

  • Statewide Fatalities: 25,117 (+11)

  • Daily NYC Infection Rate: 1.2 percent

General Updates:

  • 16 states set new highs last week for coronavirus infections recorded in a single day, eight of which surpassed records set the previous week. (Axios) New York continues to hover around a daily infection rate of one percent.

  • One of the first large studies in the US to assess the effectiveness of a coronavirus vaccine began today. (New York Times) A late-stage trial by biotechnology company Moderna will enroll 30,000 healthy people at 89 sites around the country, with results expected as early as November.

  • Increased safety enforcement at bars and restaurants continued over the weekend, with 132 new violations issued to establishments not in compliance with social distancing guidelines. (New York Daily News) 

  • Despite reopening plans in NYC that gave the greenlight for workers to return to the office a month ago, fewer than one-tenth of workers in Manhattan have done so. (Wall Street Journal) 

  • Relatedly: Google, which told employees to expect to return to the office in January, will now keep them WFH until at least July 2021. (Wall Street Journal)

Survey

Today’s poll: With 100 digests under our belt, we’re looking ahead to the post-Phase IV New York and how it will shape both the city and our member companies’ long-term plans. We’re committed to continue providing up-to-date information and resources to inform them. In the future, how frequently would you like to receive this digest?

  • *|SURVEY: Daily on weekdays|*

  • *|SURVEY: 2-3 times per week|*

  • *|SURVEY: One time per week|*

  • *|SURVEY: Intermittently as needed or is timely|*

Find the poll results from all previous editions of this newsletter here.

What We've Built

COVID-19 Resource Guide: information on government resources for businesses, health tracking and treatment tools, and return-to-office preparedness plans, including company updates published in previous digests.

: the results from every digest’s daily poll questions measuring our community’s sentiments on all things pandemic and reopening.

NY Tech’s Response to COVID-19: a roundup of all the ways Tech:NYC member companies have supported New York’s response and recovery efforts, from supporting frontline workers and other vulnerable New Yorkers to creating new technology and digital services.

Tech Talent and Job Opportunities Board: a centralized jobs board, built in partnership with AlleyCorp, for NYC tech workers looking for new roles and NYC-based tech companies hiring open positions.

COVID-19 Recovery Tracker: a dashboard of our latest research, built in partnership with Apteo, to visualize the city’s reopening strategy and how it's impacting New Yorkers

Tech Disrupted: new research by Tech:NYC and the Center for an Urban Future on COVID-19’s impact on tech companies, based on dozens of founder, investor, and industry leader interviews.

What Our Community Has Built:

Here is a sampling of some highlights from the New York tech sector. These are resources that have not only been incredibly helpful during the worst of the pandemic, but can also continue to meaningfully aid New Yorkers in the coming months, even years. 

  • New York State Technology SWAT Team: launched an initiative to partner with companies and employees on technology products and services to accelerate and amplify the state response to COVID-19. Tech:NYC proudly supported the NYS SWAT team.

  • Rt COVID-19 Dashboard: created by the founders of Instagram, the dashboard shows the average number of people who become infected by an infectious person, visualized and ranked by state.

  • Elucd Attitudes Tracker: a national daily tracker to measure and monitor coronavirus perception and preparedness, updated daily with evolving insights.

  • SimpleSense Return-to-Office Board: a Trello board compiling official return-to-office guidelines and other resources that are publicly available.

  • Help Main Street: created by the team at Lunchbox, a tool for connecting local businesses to cash support via online orders, pre-orders, and donations during COVID-19.

  • Sidewalk Widths NYC: a citywide map classifying every city block for its ability to accommodate adequate social distancing.

  • Partnership for New York City: a comprehensive new report on COVID-19’s impact on the metro region, plus an action plan on how the city can recover and prepare for the “new normal."

  • Recovery for All: a report of recommendations to guide equitable economic recovery in New York, coordinated by the NY Workforce Recovery Strategy Group.

A Few Funny Stories We Shared Along the Way:

And one last thing:WEAR A MASK. – Team Tech:NYC

When In Doubt

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

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