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COVID-19 Digest: October 9

COVID-19 Digest: October 9

October 09, 2020 • Estimated Reading Time: 10 minutes

COVID-19 Digest

Friday, October 9, 2020As NYC’s reopening and recovery efforts continue, the digest will focus on the resources that help you make decisions about your businesses and your lives as New Yorkers.

Download COVID Alert NY, the new exposure notification app built by the New York State Dept. of Health and Tech:NYC, here.

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The Latest in New York

The latest: All localized restrictions in effect today amid lawsuits from religious groups; over two million Americans out of work for more than six months; random COVID testing begins in NYC public schools; Microsoft permitting all employees to apply for partial or permanent WFH status; and today is the last day to register to vote in NY, do it here!Confirmed Cases:

New York State: 471,696 (+1,592)
New York City: 249,320 (+624)
Statewide Fatalities: 25,561 (+6)
Daily NYC Infection Rate: 1.2 percent (no change)

General Updates:

The latest positivity rate among the hotspot zip codes is 5.4 percent, down slightly from the day before, and the statewide rate excluding those is back under one percent. (NYS) But both New York and New Jersey recorded the most new coronavirus cases since mid-May. (Bloomberg)
The good news is that coronavirus-related deaths have decreased worldwide. The not-as-good news: no one knows if that’s a blip or a trend. (Washington Post)
Today is the deadline for all relevant restrictions in the state’s yellow, orange, and red hotspot zones to be in effect. (Gothamist) But Orthodox groups, as well as the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn, are suing the Governor’s Office over restrictions that limit the number of people that can be inside houses of worship. (Crain’s NY)
The economic fallout of the pandemic is felt nowhere greater than in NYC’s tourism industry, which has been hit with a 93 percent drop in international visitors and the loss of 200,000 food and beverage jobs. (New York Times) One way we suggest you help: use the long weekend to play tourist in our own city. Here’s a new citywide program with hundreds of ideas and deals.
2.4 million Americans — and rising — have now been unemployed for more than six months. (Axios) The biggest losses have been in the hospitality and leisure industries, and without another stimulus package, projections show long-term unemployment continuing to rise, peaking around early 2021.
A town hall event with VP Biden will air in place of the presidential debate scheduled for next week that Pres. Trump pulled out of. (ABC News) But that doesn’t mean Pres. Trump is staying put at the White House — while still infected, he has signaled he plans to be back in public this weekend. (New York Times)

One good read: Is NYC ‘Over’? These Brand-New New Yorkers Don’t Think So (New York Times)

Survey

The latest results: More lockdown measures were put in place today in several hotspot zones across the state this week. Do these isolated restrictions impact your daily life?

4.3%: Yes, I live in one of the restricted zones
0.9%: Yes, I work in one of the restricted zones
55.6%: No, but I’m concerned about rising rates and will change my behavior accordingly
39.3%: No, there is no impact to me at all

Today’s poll: One in three people admitted to showering less during quarantine. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing — one doctor says you’re showering too much. Since the pandemic began and you’ve been working from home, how have your hygiene habits changed?

*|SURVEY: I am showering more than before|*
*|SURVEY: I am showering less than before|*
*|SURVEY: I am showering the same as before|*

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

What You Need to Know

What to Know: Reopening:

The last round of lockdown measures must be in place in hotspot zones today. (Bloomberg) In the red zones, all schools and nonessential businesses must be closed, and restaurants may only provide takeout and delivery service.
In the state’s yellow zones, public and non-public schools are still open, but beginning today are required to provide weekly COVID testing. (ABC New York) Parents and guardians of students under 18 must give written consent before any tests can be administered.
The closure of Broadway theaters has been extended again — all shows will now remain suspended through May 30, 2021. (NY1)
New data shows that the exodus of people leaving the city since the pandemic began is slowing. (THE CITY) And many of those that have left are beginning to return, lured by a range of rental discounts and other perks. (New York Times)