Tech:NYC Digest: February 8

Tech:NYC Digest: February 8

February 08, 2021 • Estimated Reading Time: 12 minutes

Monday, February 8, 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: 15,000 vaccinations set for Yankee Stadium this week, Citi Field opening Wednesday; South Africa stops using AstraZeneca’s vaccine after poor effect on new strain; indoor dining returns to NYC Feb. 12, ahead of schedule; new study shows WFH added 2.5 hours on average to the work day, as people stay online through lunch and other breaks.

Confirmed Cases:

  • New York State: 1,479,220 (+8,448)

  • New York City: 632,347 (+4,547) 

  • Statewide Fatalities: 36,339 (+114)

  • NYC Positivity Rates:

    • NYS reports: 5.1 percent (no change)

    • NYC reports: 8.3 percent (+0.2 percent)

General Updates:

  • New cases and hospitalizations across New York continue to improve, with both numbers down by double digits over the last seven days. (NBC New York)

  • The new mass vaccination site at Yankee Stadium, which will administer 15,000 vaccinations to Bronx residents this week, is already completely booked. (Wall Street Journal) On Wednesday, Citi Field opens to Queens residents and priority vaccine eligible groups. More on that below.

  • In variant news: South Africa has paused distribution of AstraZeneca’s vaccine after data showed it had limited effect against the coronavirus variant that now accounts for most cases in the country. (Washington Post) The US is also grappling with new variants: a recent study bolstered CDC predictions that the more transmissible UK strain is doubling its US infections every ten days. (New York Times)

  • Following successful Senate and House votes, the formal details of Pres. Biden’s $1.9 trillion stimulus package will be drafted in an effort to enact it by the end of the month. (New York Times) Among the changes Democrats would like to see: the addition of a $3,000-per-child benefit, which would dramatically expand direct payments to American families through the bill. (Washington Post)

The latest results: The Buccaneers and the Chiefs face off in the Super Bowl this weekend, and whether you watch for the ads, the halftime show, or the actual game, there’s something for everyone. What are your plans for Super Bowl Sunday?

Today's poll

: New York recently expanded vaccine eligibility to all individuals 65 and older, as well as various priority groups, including teachers, transit workers, and more. As a result,

have now been administered in New York. And beginning next week, those with certain underlying conditions will be able get the shot as well. We asked this question last month and will continue to do so over the next couple months to track the vaccination progress in our own informal way: Do you know someone who’s been administered or is scheduled to soon be administered the COVID-19 vaccine?

 

 

 

  • *|SURVEY: Yes, someone in New York|*

  • *|SURVEY: Yes, someone outside of New York|*

  • *|SURVEY: Yes, both in New York and outside of New York|*

  • *|SURVEY: No|*

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

  • Gov. Cuomo announced that indoor dining in NYC will resume at 25 percent maximum capacity this Friday, Feb. 12, two days earlier than previously announced. (Grub Street)

  • New Yorkers with underlying conditions included on this list will be eligible to sign up to get the vaccine starting on Feb. 14, with appointments beginning on Feb. 15.

    • It’s up to local governments to validate comorbidity claims via a doctor’s letter or other signed certification or medical information. Gov. Cuomo said the state will provide oversight, auditing those validation efforts through Tiberius, a data platform developed through the federal government’s Operation Warp Speed initiative.

  • Beginning Wednesday, Queens residents eligible under current priority groups can begin receiving the vaccine at Citi Field, the city’s newest mass vaccination site. (New York Daily News) Half of available appointments are reserved for taxi drivers and food services workers from any borough, and half are for Queens residents of any other eligible category. The site is open 24 hours a day Wednesdays – Saturdays, and appointments can be made via the portal here.

  • About 60,000 public middle school students will resume in-person instruction beginning Feb. 25. (Chalkbeat) Public middle and high school students have been fully remote for about three months; there’s no word on when high school students may return. Middle school teachers will also receive priority for vaccinations during the mid-winter break from Feb. 15 – 19.

  • Gov. Cuomo today announced NY PopsUp, an initiative to jumpstart the arts and culture sector across the state. (New York Times) 300 free pop-up art events are scheduled for 100 days beginning Feb. 20 — starting with a performance at the Javits Center to pay tribute to healthcare workers. Gov. Cuomo says the PopsUp initiative will pave the way for the reopening of more live events, subject to testing and other safety requirements to be released soon.

    • The initiative coincides with Mayor de Blasio’s announcement of Curtains Up NYC, the city’s plan to direct $10 million in federal grants to NYC arts and performance venues.

  • Facebook this week will begin showing US users where and when they can get the coronavirus vaccine. (CNBC) The company also plans to award $120 million in ad credits to local health agencies to run campaigns about the vaccine.

Related reading:

  • ‘I Am Blown Away’: Strangers Are Helping Strangers Get Vaccinated (New York Times)

  • How the Pandemic Is Coming to Prime Time (Or Not) (New York Times)

  • Can My Apartment Building Mandate Vaccinations for Workers and Staff? (New York Times)

  • Double face masks? N95? Protect yourself against new COVID-19 variants with these mask upgrades (Wall Street Journal)

  • Snowsuits Are the New Going-Out Tops (The Cut)

Working:

  • New research indicates that US employees working from home are experiencing a 2.5 hour increase in the average workday. (CNN) In particular, workers seem to be spending more time at their desks during lunchtime.

  • New projections indicate that prices for Manhattan office leases may tumble as much as 30 percent in the next year. (Bloomberg) Counterpoint: the borough’s luxury market had its best week last week since Nov. 2019. (The Real Deal)

  • LVMH has asked NYC-based employees to return to the office two days a week beginning March 1. (Wall Street Journal)

Related reading:

  • The New Silicon Valley Perks: Child Care, Financial Planning, and Therapy (Wall Street Journal)

  • Anyone who hires should worry about this: disrupted school due to COVID will leave a less-skilled America (Axios)

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 10: Virtual: Celebrating Black Excellence in Health Tech, with Ro SVP Dr. Melynda Barnes, Cityblock Health co-founder Dr. Toyin Ajayi, Spora Health CEO Dan Miller, and RubiconMD CEO Gil Addo. Hosted by Ro. (Details) 

  • February 11: Virtual: The Future of Work, with Pursuit CEO Jukay Hsu, Pymetrics CEO Frida Polli, and others. Hosted by Savills. (Details)

  • February 17: Virtual: Section 230 and Your Startup, with US Senate Committee on Finance Chief Adviser Jayme White, Engine Executive Director Kate Tummarello, and more. Hosted by Engine. (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)

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

Was this digest forwarded to you? Sign up to

.