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COVID-19 Digest: June 24

COVID-19 Digest: June 24

June 24, 2020 • Estimated Reading Time: 11 minutes

COVID-19 Digest

Wednesday, June 24, 2020As NYC begins reopening, the digest will focus on the resources that help you make decisions about your businesses and your lives as New Yorkers.

Below and in our resource guide, you’ll find the latest information on government resources for businesses, city and state reopening measures, and return-to-office preparedness plans. If this can be useful to your colleagues and network, encourage them to sign up here.

The Latest in New York

The latest: Tri-state governors announce travel advisory for hotspot states; salon styles and barbershop buzzes are back, what to know for your hair care appointment; NYC beaches to open July 1; theaters and gyms left out of Phase IV in latest state guidelines.Confirmed Cases:

New York State: 389,666 (+581)
New York City: 213,348 (+292)
Statewide Fatalities: 24,782 (+17)
Daily NYC Infection Rate: 1.2 percent (-0.2 percent)

General Updates:

Gov. Cuomo, together with the governors of New Jersey and Connecticut, announced a joint travel advisory. All individuals traveling into NY, NJ, or CT from states where the infection rate is 10 per 100,000 residents or 10 percent or higher over a seven-day rolling average must quarantine for 14 days. (New York Times) The advisory applies to Florida, Texas, and several other states. It takes effect at midnight tonight.
Cases in the US have grown to their highest level since April, with more than 35,000 new cases confirmed yesterday and numbers increasing in more than 20 states. (New York Times)
Despite coronavirus complications, New Yorkers still cast their ballots in record numbers throughout yesterday’s primaries. A historic 1.7 million absentee ballots were requested and in-person polling sites also experienced higher volume than anticipated. (POLITICO)
The New York City Marathon has officially been called off for this year. It was scheduled for November, but city officials decided the risks of running a race with 50,000 participants this fall were too high. (New York Times)
Mayor de Blasio may lay off 22,000 city employees in order to save $1 billion in NYC’s budget, if there is no further federal and state aid. The city must have a balanced budget for the 2021 fiscal year by June 30. (New York Post)

One 👏 for a member thing: Cross River, The Tiny Bank That Got Pandemic Aid to 100,000 Small Businesses (New York Times)

Survey

The latest results: How did you participate in the democratic process today?

2.0%: I voted early at a poll site
48.3%: I voted via absentee ballot
17.2%: I voted/am voting today in-person at my poll site
32.5%: I didn’t or can’t vote in this primary

Today’s poll: Unruly, unkempt, uneven … awfully buzzed? These are words that we’ve been using to describe our hair, and we’d guess yours, too. Now that salons and barbers are open for appointments, what’s your styling status?

*|SURVEY: I already got a haircut|*
*|SURVEY: I've booked an appointment for a haircut in the near future|*
*|SURVEY: I haven't or don't plan to get a haircut anytime soon|*

Reminder: If you haven’t already, please help us get to know you better by completing our quick audience survey here. Find the poll results from all previous editions of this newsletter here.

What You Need to Know

What to Know: Reopening:

Yesterday we broke down more guidance on everything to expect with outdoor dining, but if there’s anything that takes a close second to New Yorkers’ excitement about eating out, it’s getting a haircut. With hair shops reemerging for the Phase II reopening, here’s what you need to know about visiting your salon or barbershop:

It’s no surprise scores of customers are jumping at their shop’s first available appointment, where customers have reported waiting in line for as long as two hours. (New York Post) The shop owners are just as excited — one even booked a DJ and brought in a stocked bar to celebrate reopening. (New York Post)
But shops are reporting having to eliminate some chair stations and limit walk-ins to comply with social distancing rules, forcing them to raise prices for some services to make up for lost revenue. (NY1)
Here’s a recap of the guidance for a low-risk salon visit:
- Salons and barbershops may only open at maximum 50 percent occupancy;
- But only for hair services — think of it as limited to your scalp. Beard trims, massages, hair removal, facials, and nail services remain prohibited;
- Both employees and customers must wear face coverings at all times, and only take it off when/if customers need a trim around their ears, during which time they should hold it at their face;
- Customers can also expect to be draped in a disposable smock instead of a reusable cloth one;
- Appointment-only service is strongly recommended;
- Employees are strongly encouraged to get tested, and customers are urged to inquire about employees testing status. Shops must also keep a log of customers to trace if an employee tests positive;
- Shops are also encouraged, but not required, to perform temperature checks using no-touch forehead thermometers.
For those still wary of visiting a shop, Phase II has also welcomed various on-demand and at-home salon and beauty services to start up again in NYC. (Glossy)
One thing that did survive the pandemic (and says everything about how desperate New Yorkers are for a cut): the $1,000 haircut is alive and well. (Bloomberg)

In other reopening news:

NYC beaches will reopen for swimming on July 1 with lifeguards on duty. Social distancing and face coverings will still be required. (Gothamist)
Long Island enters Phase III of reopening today, which means indoor dining and personal care services like spas and nail salons may reopen, all with social distancing measures in place. (NBC New York)
Five regions are set to enter Phase IV this Friday, and the state released more guidelines on what will become available, such as zoos and museums. Many anticipated businesses will however remain closed, including: amusement parks, casinos, gyms, indoor concerts, and movie theaters. (Democrat & Chronicle)

What to Know: Return-to-Office:

Newlab has launched its Return to Work Studio, a live sandbox and pilot program using frontier technology to reopen workplaces safely. The program is piloting at Newlab HQ, which houses 150+ companies and 800+ members. (Newlab)
The New York Times will not require staff to return to NYC offices until January 2021, at the earliest. Previously, the Times had planned to bring employees back by September. (WWD)