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Tech:NYC Digest: April 5

Tech:NYC Digest: April 5

April 05, 2021 • Estimated Reading Time: 11 minutes

Monday, April 5, 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: A third of New Yorkers have one shot, all adults 16+ eligible tomorrow; 11pm curfew lifted for most businesses, but not restaurants and bars; de Blasio nixes two-case rule for schools; new survey found 70 percent of businesses looking to bring workers back to the office by fall.

By the Numbers:

New York State: 1,890,420 (+7,467)
New York City: 847,783 (+3,688)
Statewide Fatalities: 40,756 (+59)
NYC Positivity Rates:
- NYS reports: 4.3 percent (no change)
- NYC reports: 6.6 percent (+0.3 percent)
Vaccine Progress:
- NYS first doses administered: 6,647,220 (+63,556)
- NYC first doses administered: 2,380,464

General Updates:

One in three New York residents has now received at least one dose of the vaccine, according to state data. (New York Times)
- That comes on the eve of the last remaining phase of adult eligibility: beginning tomorrow at 8am, New Yorkers aged 16 and older will be eligible to receive the vaccine.
- And in perfect timing: beginning next week, New York will receive an additional 77,000 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine each week. (New York Post)
Many public health officials are saying the pandemic is now a race between the vaccines and the variants. Here’s a helpful tracker on how the variants — including the one originating in NYC — are spreading.
The CDC updated its guidance to indicate that fully vaccinated people may travel at “low risk to themselves.” (Washington Post) The update comes after analysis of real-world data on the rapid pace and effectiveness of vaccines, which are now being administered to more than three million people daily. (New York Times)
The FDA has given approval to two more over-the-counter, at-home rapid coronavirus tests from providers Abbott and Quidel. (Axios)

One thing we love: NY Forever has teamed up with New York Magazine to launch a limited-edition Cookie Edit, a curated box of a dozen cookies, each from a bakery or restaurant across the five boroughs, shipped directly to you. All proceeds benefit ROAR NY, an organization providing relief to restaurant workers. Learn more and order your box here.

The latest results: A new Regional Plan Association study shows that optimism is blooming as we enter the spring season, with 57 percent of New Yorkers saying they are optimistic about the city’s future. How optimistic are you that the NYC economy will be able to fully reopen by the end of the year?

Today's poll

: While curfew restrictions were recently lifted for many businesses, the 11pm curfew

remains in effect

for restaurants and bars to minimize maskless activities. Meanwhile, NYC establishments open at 50 percent capacity, the maximum allowed for indoor dining, are finding diners

don’t want to leave

. Have you patronized a restaurant in the last month?

(This is a recurring question, responses help Tech:NYC track trends over time.)

*|SURVEY: Yes, I've dined indoors|*
*|SURVEY: Yes, I've dined outdoors|*
*|SURVEY: Yes, both|*
*|SURVEY: Yes, but only takeout/delivery|*
*|SURVEY: No|*

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

The progress of the state’s vaccine rollout has prompted Gov. Cuomo to continue relaxing COVID-19 restrictions, even as daily case counts remain high and some public health officials warn that reopening measures are being implemented too quickly. The day-to-day changes can get confusing, so here’s a recap of where things stand. (NY1)
- Indoor gatherings remain capped at ten people and outdoor gatherings at 25 people, but for weddings and religious services, there are different rules (generally speaking, 50 percent of the venue capacity).
- Spectator sports have resumed at 20 percent capacity, and theater and arts venues at 33 percent capacity (those levels more flexible if the venues require proof of a negative test or vaccination).
- A quarantine period is no longer required for domestic travel in and out of New York. Full details here.
- NYC restaurants are open for indoor dining capacity at 50 percent capacity with an 11pm curfew. Restaurants outside of the city are at 75 percent capacity.
Mayor de Blasio announced today he would amend the “two-case” rule that requires any school building that records two unrelated positive coronavirus cases be temporarily shut down. (New York Times) The rule, much to the frustration of teachers and parents, is responsible for as many as 2,400 school closures in the past year. (NY1)
- The change comes as Dept. of Education officials extend the deadline to opt students back into in-person instruction by two days — from Wednesday to Friday, April 9th.
Beginning today, the 11pm curfew is lifted for gyms, fitness centers, movie theaters, and similar venues. (Spectrum News)
Theaters, comedy clubs, and other arts venues in New York have reopened at 33 percent capacity. But for many venues, the capacity limits and other safety protocols aren’t sustainable, signaling that they intend to have a slower, gradual reopening over the next several months. (New York Times)