Tech:NYC Digest: February 1

Tech:NYC Digest: February 1

February 01, 2021 • Estimated Reading Time: 10 minutes

Monday, February 1, 2021As NYC works through another surge of the coronavirus, the 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: Snowstorm stalls state: Cuomo declares weather emergency in 44 counties, service closures extend through tomorrow; Congressional Budget Office predicts a return to pre-pandemic economy by mid-2021; CDC to implement mask mandate on planes, public transit, and interstate travel; Mayor de Blasio wants city workers back in offices by May.

Confirmed Cases:

  • New York State: 1,419,164 (+8,508)

  • New York City: 603,571 (+4,194)

  • Statewide Fatalities: 35,319 (+141)

  • NYC Positivity Rates:

    • NYS reports: 5.2 percent (no change)

    • NYC reports: 8.3 percent (no change)

General Updates:

  • Several of the closures and other precautions put in place today due to the snowstorm will extend through tomorrow. (NY1) More on that below.

  • Gov. Cuomo declared a State of Emergency for 44 counties across the state, including NYC, putting restrictions in place for all non-essential travel. (NYS)

    • Outdoor and above-ground sections of subway lines have suspended service. It’s unclear when those stations will reopen. Underground service is still operating for now — here’s a map of accessible underground-only stations.

    • PATH service and LIRR and Metro North trains at both Grand Central and Penn Stations have also suspended service.

  • Experts say that the US is now in a “race against time” to vaccinate as many people as possible as the coronavirus variants take hold. (CNN) Infectious disease expert (and Biden transition adviser) Michael Osterholm called the threat of variant spread a “Category 5 storm,” with a surge in the UK variant expected in the next six to 14 weeks. (HuffPost) Because the US has so little of the genetic sequencing needed to detect mutating forms of the coronavirus, it’s likely they’re proliferating quickly undetected. (Washington Post)

  • Lastly, here’s some pandas at the National Zoo sliding and somersaulting in the snow. Stay warm!

One recommendation: Happy Black History Month! One way we’re planning to celebrate (and hope you do too) is by ordering from this collection of Black-owned restaurants, all part of NYC’s Restaurant Week that’s been extended through the end of the month.

The latest results: COVID cases are trending down in New York and nationwide, and yesterday Gov. Cuomo lifted many restrictions on activity across the state. However, new mutant strains threaten to increase transmission and future lockdowns as we simultaneously struggle with vaccine supply. Given these developments over the last month, how has your pandemic risk assessment changed?

Today's poll

: Once again New York City is being hit by a monumental snowstorm and once again the city decided to move all kids to remote learning for the day. Last time this happened, Mayor de Blasio said snow days are a “thing of the past.” We polled this before and want to see if feelings have changed, if at all: should students have gotten a snow day today or is remote learning the right approach?

 

 

  • *|SURVEY: Snow day|*

  • *|SURVEY: Remote learning|*

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

Reopening:

  • Some changes in the city will extend into tomorrow due to the snow storm:

    • Vaccine appointments at all state- and city-run vaccination sites tomorrow will be rescheduled. People with appointments with private providers should check in directly for the latest closure updates.

    • In-person learning at NYC public schools will be suspended again tomorrow, and all students will have a remote instruction day.

    • All flights in an out of JFK and LGA, and almost all in Newark, are canceled for the remainder of the day.

    • Alternate side parking rules are suspended through Saturday, Feb. 6. Parking meters remain in effect.

  • Data released yesterday shows that vaccine distribution in NYC so far has skewed along racial and ethnic lines, with almost half going to whites. (Wall Street Journal)

  • New projections from the Congressional Budget Office predict the US economy will return to pre-pandemic levels by mid-2021, an improvement from the office’s forecasts last summer. (New York Times)

  • The CDC moved to implement an executive order from Pres. Biden, issuing a sweeping mask mandate for planes, public transportations systems, and interstate travel in the US. (Washington Post) New York has had its own statewide mandates in effect for months, but the national mandate takes effect today.

  • Experts are warning that over-the-counter pain relievers like Aspirin and Tylenol could prohibit the body’s ability to form antibodies and dull the effectiveness of coronavirus vaccines. (ABC News)

  • Many jurisdictions across the US are looking for both clinical professionals and non-medically trained people to volunteer time to help vaccination efforts. (Washington Post) In New York, the ServNY volunteer system is accepting all kinds of volunteers.

  • And with the snowstorm keeping you inside, here’s a guide to Sundance 2021, which is all virtual of course. The festival runs through Wednesday.

Related reading:

  • We’re selling the vaccine all wrong (Axios)

  • How several NYC mayoral candidates would bring back jobs amid COVID devastation (New York Daily News)

  • The Hottest Heat Lamps in NYC (and Where to Find Them) (The Infatuation)

Working:

  • Mayor de Blasio is asking city workers to return to the office in May in an effort to encourage more workers to return to office buildings citywide. (Bloomberg)

  • NYC business leaders are weighing in on the importance of participating in the upcoming mayoral primary, encouraging their employees to vote and help decide who will steer the city’s economic recovery. (New York Times)

Related reading:

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:

  • February 1 – 5: Virtual: Diversity Reboot 2021, with Morgan Stanley Vice Chairman Carla Harris, Obama Foundation President Valerie Jarrett, Gotham Gal Founder (and angel investor) Joanne Wilson, and more. Hosted by PowerToFly. (Details)

  • February 2: Virtual: Corporate America’s Climate Report Card, with Microsoft Chief Environmental Officer Lucas Joppa and Rockefeller Foundation President Dr. Rajiv Shah. Hosted by Axios. (Details) 

  • February 5: Virtual: 2020 Virtual Careers Panel: Navigating the Post-Pandemic Tech and Media Jobs Market. Hosted by NYC Media Lab. (Details)

  • February 9: Virtual: Meet the VCs Taking on Climate Change, with Union Square Ventures’ Albert Wegner. Hosted by Betaworks Studios. (Details)

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

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