Tech:NYC Digest: February 11

Tech:NYC Digest: February 11

February 11, 2021 • Estimated Reading Time: 11 minutes

Thursday, February 11, 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: Fully vaccinated New Yorkers not required to quarantine after COVID exposure; Fauci says vaccines likely open to gen pop by April; Citi Field expands vaccination hours, open to Queens residents 24/7 Wed-Sat; 42 percent of small business owners say vaccines will not be mandatory when workers return; scroll to the end for socially distant suggestions for the Lunar New Year!   

Confirmed Cases:

  • New York State: 1,504,286 (+10,099)  

  • New York City: 645,210 (+5,193)  

  • Statewide Fatalities: 36,743 (+122)

  • NYC Positivity Rates:

    • NYS reports: 5.0 percent (-0.1 percent)

    • NYC reports: 8.1 percent (-0.4 percent)

General Updates:

  • An average of 108,000 Americans were diagnosed with COVID-19 infections each day over the past week, a 24 percent decline from the week before. (Axios)

  • Statewide positivity rates continue to drop, reporting the lowest levels since Nov. 25, and hospitalizations are on the downward trend, as well. Every region of the state is now reporting hospital capacities on a seven-day average that are at least twice the 15 percent availability threshold that Gov. Cuomo said would trigger shutdowns. (Newsday)

  • Updated CDC guidance released today says people who have received both shots of the COVID-19 vaccine will not need to quarantine if they are exposed to coronavirus. (NBC News) Gov. Cuomo updated the state guidance to reflect CDC recommendations. However, the state’s relaxed rule only applies for 90 days after a person’s second shot since studies are still ongoing for immune strength after that timeframe. Other CDC recommendations, like wearing masks and social distancing, even if you’re fully vaccinated, still apply. (Times Union)

  • Dr. Fauci said today that vaccines will likely become available to the general public in April, given the increased pace of manufacturing and distribution. (New York Post) He’s also optimistic that they will be available to kids as young as first graders by September. (ProPublica)

The latest results: Local NYC startup funding broke records in 2020, and that’s expected to continue this year too. Even with the rise of remote work, tech hiring is also expected to continue expanding in NYC and other large cities. Has your company onboarded new team members in the first part of the year?

Today's poll

: The second impeachment trial of former Pres. Trump is underway in the Senate this week. Today, impeachment managers from the House

in favor of conviction. Have you been tuning in to the trial?

 

 

 

  • *|SURVEY: Yes, I’ve tuned in for nearly all of it|*

  • *|SURVEY: Yes, I’ve tuned in for some of it|*

  • *|SURVEY: I’ve only followed coverage and reporting|*

  • *|SURVEY: No, I haven’t tuned in or paid any attention to it|*

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

  • Citi Field has opened as a mass vaccination site for Queens residents and will expand its hours to operate 24/7 Wednesdays through Sundays. The MTA will also be providing 24/7 service to the Citi Field stop as long as the site remains open. (NY1) The LIRR is also adding a Mets-Willets Point stop to help accommodate those receiving vaccines at the site. (NY1)

  • Following a discussion with Orthodox Jewish leaders, Mayor de Blasio launched an effort to reach out to city residents that are Holocaust survivors to ensure they have access to the vaccine. (Patch NYC)

  • A group of state legislators released a letter provided to them by Health Commissioner Howard Zucker responding to ongoing questions regarding nursing home deaths related to COVID-19. (New York Daily News) The letter includes updated data showing that over 15,000 residents of elder care facilities died due to coronavirus.

  • A new report shows that the legalization of recreational cannabis this year could create up to 50,000 jobs and billions in new business activity for New York amidst the economic downturn. (Journal News)

  • Uber has launched a new socially-distanced delivery feature that allows New Yorkers to have packages delivered to friends and family. (amNY)

Related reading:

  • What to know about preexisting conditions and vaccines (City & State)

  • Don’t Assume Your Coronavirus Test Is A False Positive (New York Times)

  • The pandemic’s new normal could be an unequal one (Axios)

Working:

  • While many large corporations are giving employees paid time off to get the COVID-19 vaccine, small businesses, especially outside of the restaurant and hospitality sector, are more reluctant. Just 22 percent of small business owners say they’ll require employees to receive the vaccine, and nearly twice as many (42 percent) say they won’t mandate it. (CNBC)

Related reading:

  • Businesses should plan for future crises while looking to reopen offices (Crain’s NY)

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 16: Virtual: Tech Employers Symposium, with Tech:NYC Executive Director Julie Samuels, The Center for NYC Affairs Director James Parrot, Per Scholas Managing Director Abe Mendez, and others. Hosted by Workforce Professionals Training Institute. (Details)  

  • February 18: Virtual: A Conversation with Harlem Capital Managing Partner Jarrid Tingle. Hosted by Tech:NYC, Cornell Tech, and Bloomberg. (Details)

  • February 18: Virtual: VC Voices with H/L Ventures Co-founder and Managing Partner Oliver Libby. Hosted by Betaworks Studios. (Details)

  • February 23: Virtual: Bitcoin Brunchwork, with Future\Perfect Ventures Founder and Managing Partner Jalak Jobanputra. Hosted by brunchwork. (Details)

  • March 3: Virtual: How the Big Apple Will Regain Its Shine, with Sidewalk Labs chairman and CEO Dan Doctoroff. Hosted by Crain’s New York. (Details)

Happy Lunar New Year

:

Many communities across New York will celebrate the Year of the Ox beginning tomorrow. The holiday this year will be bittersweet for many in light of the staggering spike of anti-Asian violence in recent weeks, especially in Chinatowns and against the elderly. We were glad to see it addressed in the White House briefing room this week, and we hope you’ll consider getting involved via resources here and here.

Here are some ways to mark the occasion:

  • Grassroots groups are using the holiday to help struggling Chinatowns that have seen major revenue losses due to the pandemic. (NBC News) Here are 20 of the best Chinatown restaurants you should consider supporting this year. (Thrillist)

  • Another way to help: Send Chinatown Love put together a Lunar New Year crawl that’s going on all month long, curating a list of 30 vendors, ranging from gift shops to restaurants, to encourage you to support local Asian-owned businesses.

  • The Met Museum also has a calendar of virtual performances, interactive activities, and artist-led workshops for adults and kids alike to celebrate this weekend. (Met Museum)

  • If you’re cooking at home, here’s a lovely story about Tet, a Vietnamese holiday observed on Lunar New Year, with recipes. (New York Times)

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

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