Tech:NYC Digest: February 12

Tech:NYC Digest: February 12

February 12, 2021 • Estimated Reading Time: 10 minutes

Friday, February 12, 2021Programming note: Tech:NYC will be closed on Monday in observance of the President’s Day holiday. Enjoy the long weekend, we’ll see you on Tuesday!Was this digest forwarded to you? Subscribe here.

The latest: Biden Administration buys 200 million more doses; indoor dining reopens in NYC today at 25 percent capacity, bar and restaurant curfew extends to 11pm starting Sunday; CDC recommends reopening schools, provides guidelines to do it safely; 56 percent of US workers still majority WFH, compared with 70 percent in April 2020. 

Confirmed Cases:

  • New York State: 1,512,690 (+8,404) 

  • New York City: 649,405 (+4,195)

  • Statewide Fatalities: 36,882 (+135)

  • NYC Positivity Rates:

    • NYS reports: 4.7 percent (-0.3 percent)

    • NYC reports: 7.9 percent (-0.2 percent)

General Updates:

  • The Biden Administration announced it was buying an additional 200 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer and Moderna. (NBC News) The purchase comes after the US exercised options in its contracts with the drugmakers that reserved future supply.

    • It remains to be announced if the new supply will result in another boost in the regular allocations coming to New York, but the White House has said the 200 million extra doses will get to the US by the end of July and should be enough to inoculate every American adult. 

  • Gov. Cuomo, along with several other governors and mayors, met with Pres. Biden at the White House today to discuss the stimulus package, state and local funding, reopening schools, job growth, and many other regional issues. (NY1) Pres. Biden hopes to get $350 billion in aid to state and local governments.

  • Amid new revelations that the Cuomo Administration withheld data on nursing home deaths related to COVID-19, members of the State Legislature are considering revoking emergency powers granted to Gov. Cuomo at the beginning of the pandemic. (NY1) It’s a move supported by Mayor de Blasio. (New York Daily News) Lawmakers are also calling for additional hearings and the passage of a package of bills that require new audit and reporting processes for nursing home safety protocols. (Wall Street Journal)

  • Lastly, you might hear some familiar voices during your subway ride. Beginning today, Jerry Seinfeld, Fran Lebowitz, Bowen Yang, Awkwafina, and other famous New Yorkers are taking over announcement duty on trains and in stations. Here’s a sneak peek.

One read we love: For 13 years, Times Square has held an annual art competition to represent love just in time for Valentine’s Day. This year it looks different, of course, but it’s still on and the winning installation is accepting visitors. (Bloomberg)

The latest results: The second impeachment trial of former Pres. Trump is underway in the Senate this week. Today, impeachment managers from the House concluded their arguments in favor of conviction. Have you been tuning in to the trial?

Today's poll

: Indoor dining reopens across New York City today at limited capacity. The reopening was moved up so that restaurants could benefit from Valentine’s Day outings. Do you have plans to dine this weekend?

 

 

 

  • *|SURVEY: Yes, likely at a restaurant indoors|*

  • *|SURVEY: Yes, likely at a restaurant outdoors|*

  • *|SURVEY: Yes, by takeout/delivery|*

  • *|SURVEY: No, I’ll be cooking at home|*

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

  • Indoor dining reopens today in NYC at 25 percent capacity (Eater NY). But some restaurant owners say that won’t yield enough additional revenue to warrant staffing, cleaning, and operational costs. (Bloomberg)

  • Additionally, Gov. Cuomo announced that, beginning Sunday, bars and restaurants can remain open until 11pm, an hour-long extension of the current curfew. (NBC New York)

  • New recommendations from the CDC today state that school reopenings should be a higher priority over restaurants and nonessential businesses. (Axios) The full guidance is available here.

  • Nearly seven in 10 jobs lost in NYC last year were held by people of color, according to a new economic study. Jobs in retail, nail salons, barbershops, hotels, and restaurants represented the greatest losses. (New York Daily News)

Related reading:

  • We Asked 175 Pediatric Disease Experts if it Was Safe Enough to Reopen Schools (New York Times)

  • Why vaccine production is taking so long (Axios)

  • Why you shouldn’t get a COVID antibody test after your vaccine (Washington Post)

  • How Long Can COVID Cases Keep Plummeting? (New York Magazine)

Working:

  • A new Gallup poll shows that the majority of US employees — 56 percent — continue to work remotely either all or most of the time. That number was at 70 percent in April 2020, but leveled off to about the current level in September 2020. (Gallup)

Related reading:

  • What Happens When a City’s Largest Employer Goes ‘Work From Anywhere’ (Bloomberg)

  • These are the top skills people are seeking out while working from home (CNBC)

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

  • February 18: Virtual: The Roles Companies and Individuals Play to Keep New York Safe, with AlleyCorp CEO Kevin Ryan, Mastercard North American president Linda Kirkpatrick, Partnership for New York City CEO Kathryn Wylde, and more. Hosted by Crain’s NY. (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)

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

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