COVID-19 Digest: March 31

COVID-19 Digest: March 31

March 31, 2020 • Estimated Reading Time: 9 minutes

COVID-19 Digest

Tuesday, March 31, 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: 40 percent of renters may not make payments tomorrow; today’s survey on going out habits; how the CARES Act helps individuals; grocery tips for quarantine.Confirmed Cases: 

  • New York State: 75,795 (+9,298)

  • New York City: 43,139 (+5,686)

  • Statewide Fatalities: 1,550 (+332)

  • Patients Discharged: 4,975 (+771)

General Updates:

  • NYC launches a COVID-19 self-reporting health portal in an effort to gather data directly from residents and better target response efforts. (City & State)

  • Despite calling this a war, Pres. Trump has yet to invoke the Defense Production Act to force businesses to produce needed medical supplies to fight the pandemic. The Defense Department reportedly has used the law’s powers 300,000 times each year, but some are hesitant to use it for nonmilitary purposes. (New York Times) 

  • Landlords expect rent payments to fall short by as much as 40 percent on tomorrow’s due date. (New York Times) Some, including Mayor de Blasio, may endorse a plan to allow security deposits to be put toward rent. (New York Daily News)

  • Want more COVID-19 data? Nonprofit newsroom THE CITY is tracking NYC specific metrics on how different boroughs and age groups are affected by the virus over time. (THE CITY)

Survey

Unless you are working at a company that has been designated an essential service, the state has advised New Yorkers to practice social distancing and remain at home to the greatest extent possible. That said, New Yorkers are still allowed to visit grocery stores, pharmacies, exercise outside, and more. We want to know, on average, how many times are you getting out of your home each day?

  • *|SURVEY: 0|*

  • *|SURVEY: 1|*

  • *|SURVEY: 2-3|*

  • *|SURVEY: 4 or more|*

What You Need to Know

CARES Act: How It Impacts Individuals:

In yesterday’s digest, we shared a list of resources and tools for businesses looking to navigate the CARES Act. Today, we’re sharing resources and information for individuals looking to navigate the federal government response and manage their personal finances during the pandemic: 

  • National Law Review offers a comprehensive breakdown of the various provisions of unemployment insurance, including clear guidance on whether someone qualifies. 

  • Vox provides an analysis of how the stimulus package alters unemployment insurance, and points out that a main provision of the CARES Act “is a $600-per-week across-the-board increase in unemployment benefits for all workers claiming them.”

  • New York State Department of Labor provides guidance on unemployment insurance and instructions on how to file claims. 

  • Bloomberg walks through everything you want to know about the $1,200 (or less) check the federal government will distribute, including when and how people will receive the money. 

  • National Law Review also lists out the tax relief provided to individuals under the CARES Act, including the waiving of penalties for early withdrawal from retirement plans. 

  • The New York Times created an incredibly useful hub for personal financial information and help during the pandemic, listing out government programs and private sector resources.   

WORKPLACE TOOLS:

  • Carbon Five: a free real-time sticky note tool for teams called Stickies.io.

  • Financial Gym: offering discounts on their employer programs to companies who want to extend financial planning benefits to their teams. Reach out to learn more here.

  • Holisticly: created a calendar featuring free livestream classes for at-home workouts, from top studios like Equinox, Barry's Bootcamp, Box+Flow, RUMBLE, and more.

  • Luminary Labs: a collection of insights, including a reading list and open innovation index, helping the private sector connect to government on response opportunities.

  • NewsGuard: a free browser extension that provides trust ratings on news and information websites, including many that publish COVID-19 misinformation and hoaxes. 

  • 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: How to turn cramped quarters into a space conducive to learning: Home Schooling, Simplified. (New York Times)

POLICY:

  • With the New York State Legislature and Gov. Cuomo dealing with the pandemic and facing a major budget shortfall, it remains unclear how the budget will come together, what legislative proposals will progress, and whether they will meet the budget deadline, which is midnight. (City & State) If state leaders fail to reach an agreement, state government will shut down, including the Department of Health. (Twitter)

  • According to Gov. Cuomo, the legalization of recreational marijuana is one of the proposals that will likely be eliminated from the budget. (New York Daily News)

EVENTS:

  • April 1: Virtual: What Startups Should Know About Federal Small Business Loans, with Dentons. Hosted by Newlab. (Details)

  • April 1: Virtual: Live Q&A with FirstMark Capital. Hosted by TechCrunch. (Details)

  • April 2: Webinar: The Broader Economic Impact of COVID-19, with Nobel Prize winner Joseph E. Stiglitz. Hosted by Savills. (Details)

  • April 2: Webinar: The Economy Under COVID-19, with former U.S. Department of Labor and Commerce leaders. Hosted by FiscalNote. (Details)

  • April 3: Virtual: The Combine Demo Day, featuring the Combine 2020 cohort. Hosted by the NYC Media Lab. (Details)

  • April 6: Virtual: Building Startups, Teams, and Early Stage VC, with Primary Ventures. Hosted by Slacklist. Use code ONWARD to get 30% off. (Details)

Getting groceries during the pandemic:

  • Your coronavirus grocery questions, answered by experts. (Vox)

  • Nervous about grocery shopping? Here’s how to get what you need faster. (LA Times)

  • What 3 nutritionists recommend stockpiling for meals during the coronavirus quarantine. (Business Insider)

  • Grocery store low on food? Here are some delivery options from chain stores, online-only stores, meal kit plans, and more. (CNET)

  • And alongside all these tips, here’s some advice from a grocery store worker worth remembering: “Be kind. Don’t let the weight of your grief and anger fall on the shoulders of service workers.” (New York Times)

When In Doubt

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