Tech:NYC Digest: April 28

Tech:NYC Digest: April 28

April 28, 2021 • Estimated Reading Time: 11 minutes

Wednesday, April 28, 2021As the vaccination rollout progresses and NYC continues to respond to the pandemic, this digest focuses on the resources that help you make decisions about your businesses and your lives as New Yorkers.Was this digest forwarded to you? Subscribe here.

The latest: NYC COVID rates show noticeable decline after two-month plateau; outdoor dining curfew to lift mid-May; state legislature likely to reverse food purchase requirement for alcoholic drink orders; JPMorgan to increase office capacity to 50 percent starting May 17, with staff on rotational schedules.By the Numbers:

  • New York State: 2,024,553 (+3,146)

  • New York City: 910,095 (+1,297)

  • Statewide Fatalities: 41,190 (+32) 

  • NYC Positivity Rates: 

    • NYS reports: 2.0 percent (-0.1 percent)

    • NYC reports: 3.4 percent (-0.1 percent) 

  • Vaccine Progress:

    • NYS first doses administered: 8,994,649 (+86,491)

    • NYC first doses administered: 3,495,662 (+40,409)

General Updates:

  • After a two-month plateau of relatively high rates, new case counts and hospitalizations are finally dropping in NYC. The seven-day average dropped 34 percent in the past week, and in Manhattan, there has been a sharp 64 percent drop over the last month. (Bloomberg)

  • Millions of Americans are foregoing their second vaccine dose, but New Yorkers are doing better at keeping to the schedule. Health Commissioner Dr. Dave Chokshi said less than five percent of city residents missed their second dose, compared to eight percent nationally. (Gothamist)

  • Pfizer announced it is developing an at-home antiviral therapy drug for COVID-19. CEO Albert Bourla said the drugmaker could have it available by the end of the year. (CNBC)

  • Pres. Biden will deliver his first address to a joint session of Congress tonight, on the eve of his 100th day in office. Here’s what he’s expected to say, and how to tune in at 9pm ET. (NPR)

Join us tomorrow: at 2pm ET, NYC’s leading mayoral candidates will pitch their visions for closing the digital divide to a panel of expert judges, including CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez, Educational Alliance President and CEO Alan van Capelle, and our own Julie Samuels. Register to tune in here.

The latest results: Today’s updated CDC mask guidance for fully vaccinated individuals is welcome news, especially for those who have both shots, but others are saying it could encourage a further laxxing of safety compliance as pandemic fatigue continues to take hold. How will the guidance affect your behavior?     

Today's poll

: Guidance continues to ease this week after the CDC said fully vaccinated people don’t need to mask when outdoors. Most recently,

will no longer need to serve food with alcoholic beverages, they can soon bring bar seating back, and mid-May, they will be allowed to stay open without evening curfews. How do you anticipate these changes will affect your dining habits?

  • *|SURVEY: I’m more likely to dine out, including indoors|*

  • *|SURVEY: I’m more likely to dine out, but only outdoors|*

  • *|SURVEY: My dining habits won’t change|*

  • *|SURVEY: I’m less likely to dine out|*

  • Beginning May 17th, the midnight curfew for outdoor dining will be lifted, freeing up bars and restaurants to continue serving food and drinks to their pre-pandemic closing time. (NY1) The midnight curfew for indoor dining will be lifted on May 31st.

    • Applicable curfews for catered events will also be lifted at the same time.

    • And beginning May 3rd, bar seating will return to NYC establishments. (Eater NY)

  • The New York Legislature is also set to suspend the “Cuomo snacks” rule, which required bars and restaurants to serve food with every alcoholic beverage order as a way to prevent overcrowding and enforce social distancing measures. (Grub Street) 

  • The city is launching a $15 million informational campaign on ranked choice voting ahead of the June 22 primaries, including advertising, multi-language PSAs and translation services, and outreach through community organizations. (NYC) Here is a good guide from the New York Times on how RCV will work in upcoming elections.

Related reading:

  • Everything You Need to Know About Eating in Restaurants Right Now (Grub Street)

  • Vaccinated and hitting the gym? There’s still some risks to assess. (Washington Post)

  • Behind the scenes from starter cells to a finished vaccine: how Pfizer makes its COVID-19 shot (New York Times)

  • When Can We Declare the Pandemic Over? (New York Times)

Working:

  • More Wall Street finance chiefs are cementing their return to office plans:

    • JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon said in a new memo that all US-based employees will have the option to return to the office beginning May 17th, subject to a consistent rotational schedule at 50 percent maximum capacity. A more formal return for all employees will come in early July. (New York Times)

    • UBS plans to go the hybrid route: CEO Ralph Hamers expects the majority of US-based staff will be back in the office in the second half of this year, but the company will allow teams to work virtually depending on the task. (Bloomberg)

    • Deutsche Bank has some of the most flexible plans among the large finance institutions, allowing staff to make arrangements with their managers to permit work from home for up to three days a week. (Bloomberg)

  • New data from job listings site Indeed show that internships are one area where the job market is still lagging. Remote internship opportunities are rising, but overall postings haven’t bounced back, down 15 percent from 2020 — and 39 percent from 2019. (Axios) Get the full data here.

Related reading:

  • CEOs tell us in their own words how the pandemic has changed leadership, office plans, and actions on social justice and diversity, equity, and inclusion. (Insider)

  • 3 ways to keep your company culture intact after the pandemic (Fast Company)

Request: please let us know as your return-to-office policies are developed and what considerations your companies are taking for developing them. Sharing this information is helpful to companies and employees across the NYC ecosystem and can be kept anonymous.

Recruit: A tech talent and job opportunities board from Tech:NYC and AlleyCorp compiles NYC tech workers looking for new roles and NYC-based tech companies hiring open positions. To contribute to the board, click here.Events:

  • April 29: Virtual: NYC Mayoral Candidates Pitch Ideas for Solving the Digital Divide, with CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez, Educational Alliance president and CEO Alan van Capelle, and Tech:NYC executive director Julie Samuels. (Details)

  • April 29: Virtual: Getting Your Startup Funded in the Current Market, with RRE Ventures general partner Raju Rishi, Amplifyher Ventures partner Meghan Cross Breeden, and more. Hosted by NY Tech Alliance. (Details)

  • May 4: Virtual: Bloomberg Wealth Summit, with Coinbase president & COO Emilie Choi, Betterment CEO Sarah Levy, UBS Head of US Wealth Management Jason Chandler, and more. Hosted by Bloomberg. (Details)

  • May 5: Virtual: NYC’s Restaurant Revival, with star chefs and restaurateurs Danny Meyer, Daniel Boulud, Thomas Keller, and Melba Wilson. Hosted by Crain’s. (Details)

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

Was this digest forwarded to you? Sign up to

.