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COVID-19 Digest: May 18

COVID-19 Digest: May 18

May 18, 2020 • Estimated Reading Time: 13 minutes

COVID-19 Digest

Monday, May 18, 2020Please 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.Tech:NYC’s resource guide includes information on government resources for businesses, new health tracking and treatment tools, and a new section with return-to-office preparedness plans and resources. It will be updated regularly.

The Latest in New York

The latest: Western NY to reopen tomorrow, NYC still a month away; it’s a beach weekend for all but NYC; alternate side parking in effect for citywide street cleaning; planning your long-weekend around closed beaches. Confirmed Cases:

New York State: 351,371 (+1,250)
New York City: 193,230 (+637)
Statewide Fatalities: 22,729 (+106)

General Updates:

Beaches in the tri-state region will open on Friday for Memorial Day weekend, but not in NYC. (POLITICO) More on that below.
On Friday, half of New York’s regions were allowed to begin reopening, and Western New York will reopen tomorrow. (NY State of Politics) For the remaining four regions still not eligible, including NYC, the PAUSE order was extended to May 28.
Mayor de Blasio said today that if current trends hold, he expects NYC will be able to begin reopening in the first half of June. (CNBC)
NYC is resuming alternate side parking beginning today through May 23 for a clean sweep citywide. It will be suspended again May 24 through June 7. (NY1)
The state is distributing 320,000 testing kits to nursing homes statewide to help them comply with Gov. Cuomo’s recent order requiring facilities to test all staffers twice per week. (Newsday)
The FDA authorized use of an at-home kit which allows people to take samples via nasal swab and send it to a lab for diagnostic testing. The kits are estimated to cost $135 and will be available later this month. (The Hill)
The state issued updated guidance for businesses, classifying more operations as essential, including: landscaping, commercial and residential moving services, and low-risk recreational activities like tennis, golf, and kayaking. (NYS)

One interesting thing: The French have taught us much, from fashion to wine. And apparently, how to avoid pandemic pandemonium — Conspiracy Theories, Class Tension, Political Intrigue: Lessons From France’s Mishandling of a 19th Century Cholera Outbreak (TIME) You may also recognize the author’s last name … yes, that’s Julie’s cousin!

Survey

Thursday's results: Did you tune in for any part of the Supreme Court oral arguments?

15.3%: Yes
84.7%: No

Today’s poll: With the announcement that NYC beaches will remain closed, Memorial Day weekend plans are up in the air for many. One alternative: one of the many tri-state beaches set to open on Friday, albeit with a list of restrictions and social distancing measures. Will you travel out of the city this weekend to get to a beach or for another Memorial Day activity?

*|SURVEY: Yes, I'm planning to travel out of the city.|*
*|SURVEY: No, I'm staying in the city.|*
*|SURVEY: I'm already based outside of NYC.|*

Find the poll results from all previous editions of this newsletter here. If you have a question you’d like to ask the broader community in this newsletter, send us your ideas and we’ll try to include them!

What You Need to Know

Beaches:

As we approach Memorial Day weekend, New Yorkers are as antsy as ever to get outdoors and enjoy the summer weather. In anticipation, both Gov. Cuomo and Mayor de Blasio have issued — sometimes contradictory — guidance on access to beaches. (New York Times) Before you make any weekend plans, here’s what you need to know:

New York State will open all state-run beaches for swimming on Friday ahead of the Memorial Day weekend. (NY1)
- But the reopening plan comes with several caveats, including:
  - They cannot exceed 50 percent capacity;
  - Group contact and recreational activities will not be permitted;
  - Concessions stands, picnic areas, and playgrounds will remain closed.
- The decision was made in coordination with other states in the region — New Jersey, Connecticut, and Delaware — in an attempt to avoid overcrowding at any particular shoreline and risk spreading the disease. (New York Times)
- Lifeguards and other appropriate staff will be at the beaches, as well as an increased police presence to enforce capacity and social distancing measures.
NYC, however, sent the opposite message: Mayor de Blasio said the city will not be ready to open beaches this weekend. (CBS New York)
- Some are criticizing the stance, worried that New Yorkers will defy the ban and flock to beaches no matter what and that a controlled reopening would be a better strategy. (City & State)
- Mayor de Blasio has stood firm, though, saying if the closure is ignored the city will put up fencing to keep people out. (New York Daily News)
But “closed” doesn’t completely mean closed: walking or sitting on city beaches will be permitted, but swimming, gatherings, or group activities will not. Social distancing measures are to be enforced across the board. (New York Daily News)
But but … beaches run by the State Parks Department — like Jones Beach State Park and Robert Moses State Park — and by the federal National Park Service — like Jacob Riis Beach and Ft. Tilden Beach — will be open. (New York Post)
Jersey Shore beaches will also be reopening. Here are their new rules. (NJ.com)
A list of the NYC beaches that will remain closed to swimming, including the Rockaways, Coney Island, and Orchard Beach, is here. Public pools will also remain closed indefinitely.

RETURN-TO-OFFICE PLANS:

As New York plans its reopening, so too are companies forming their return-to-office strategies. In addition to following federal guidelines, here are more updates on current plans:

Google updated and extended its work from home policy until December 31. (Observer)
Square has informed all of its employees that they can work from home permanently. (CNBC)
Apple intends to reopen 25 U.S. stores this week. The company released guidelines for its retail stores including mandatory masks and temperature checks. (CNBC) Here’s its statement.
The CDC released a one-page “decision tool” document of guidance for reopening workplaces. (CDC)