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Tech:NYC Digest: December 22

Tech:NYC Digest: December 22

December 22, 2020 • Estimated Reading Time: 10 minutes

Tuesday, December 22, 2020Programming note: this is the last edition of the Tech:NYC Digest for 2020. Have a safe, restful holiday break, and we’ll see you on Jan. 4.Was this digest forwarded to you? Subscribe here.

The latest: $900 billion stimulus package passes; UK under new lockdowns from mutated COVID strain, travelers from UK to New York must take pre-departure COVID test; 50,000 now vaccinated across New York; new Axios-Ipsos poll shows vaccine confidence is growing; check out the latest episode of Talk:NYC with New York Times tech journalist Shira Ovide.

Confirmed Cases:

New York State: 866,765 (+9,716)
New York City: 387,267 (+2,456)
Statewide Fatalities: 28,850 (+139)
NYC Positivity Rates:
- NYS reports: 4.3 percent (no change)
- NYC reports: 5.9 percent (-0.1 percent)

General Updates:

Late last night, Congress passed the $900 billion coronavirus relief bill and $1.4 trillion government funding measure (fun fact: the legislation is 5,600 pages long). Here’s a very good summary of everything that made it in the final bill. (POLITICO)
- Here’s a good breakdown of what it could mean for you — everything to know about direct payments, unemployment benefits, rental and mortgage assistance, and student loan payments. (New York Times)
Dr. Fauci said the new mutation of COVID-19 spreading across the UK is likely already in the US. (The Hill) Gov. Cuomo has echoed that he also believes it’s already in the US and has asked hospitals to begin testing for it specifically.
- The BioNTech CEO who co-founded the Pfizer vaccine says he is “confident” it will work against the new strain. (New York Post) The White House’s vaccine czar has also said the strain won’t have any effect on the efficacy of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines. (CNBC)
- The Times has a good overview of everything else scientists know about it. Of the most concern: it could be as much as 70 percent more transmissible than other strains. (New York Times)
And while the digest is on holiday break, here are some resources to stay in the know on the latest coronavirus-related data in New York. Here’s how to find:
- New York State’s dashboard of case counts in every region
- New York State’s dashboard of positivity rates in every region
- New York City’s landing page for all of its COVID-19 data
- New York’s State’s resource hub for vaccine updates
ICYMI: this digest is one of many things we launched to help our community and the city more broadly respond to the pandemic this year. Check out our annual report to see everything else we accomplished alongside our members in 2020.
And lastly, here’s 20 good things that happened in 2020. Let’s work for more of them in 2021.

One good listen: for the final episode of Talk:NYC for the year, Julie sat down with New York Times writer Shira Ovide to chat about the changing face of journalism and how government can embrace tech to better meet the needs of people. Listen here or wherever you get your podcasts.

One read we love: New Yorkers on why they love NYC, now more than ever (Gothamist)

The latest results: As we head into the holiday break, this is the last poll we’ll send out in 2020. And to 2020, we say good riddance. What are you most looking forward to when we get to the other side in 2021?

Find the poll results from all previous editions of this newsletter here. And don’t worry, the polls will return in 2021!

Reopening:

Gov. Cuomo said today that 50,000 people have now been vaccinated in New York. As we head into the holidays, 630,000 doses have arrived in the state, and another 300,000 are expected before the new year. (NYS)
As the vaccine rollout continues, Lyft is launching a campaign to provide free and discounted rides to vaccination sites for vulnerable populations. (Fast Company)
The stimulus package passed last night includes $600 checks for individuals with adjusted gross incomes up to $75,000 a year. Reduced checks will go out to individuals making up to $87,000 a year (down from $99,000 in the spring). (Washington Post)
Amid concern over a new coronavirus strain in Britain, all three airlines flying from the UK into New York — British Airways, Delta, and Virgin Atlantic — have agreed to require pre-departure COVID tests of passengers beginning today. (NBC New York)
In a move intended to address the trauma caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the city plans to launch a mental health screening initiative for students at public schools in 27 of the hardest-hit neighborhoods. (Gothamist)
According to a new Axios-Ipsos poll, one in three Americans believe their physical and mental health will be better next year, with now more people saying they plan to get the COVID vaccine as soon as it's available. (Axios)