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Tech:NYC Digest: January 11

Tech:NYC Digest: January 11

January 11, 2021 • Estimated Reading Time: 12 minutes

Monday, January 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: Phase 1B vaccinations begin, 75+ and essential workers now eligible; second round of PPP available, small businesses first in line; NYC mass vaccination sites opened in each borough, Biden Administration plans for federal sites nationwide; Gov. Cuomo issues part one of the 2021 State of the State address, outlines strategy to “win the COVID war” with support from a reshuffled federal government.

Confirmed Cases:

New York State: 1,126,442 (+15,355)
New York City: 478,167 (+5,319)
Statewide Fatalities: 31,672 (+151)
NYC Positivity Rates:
- NYS reports: 6.0 percent
- NYC reports: 8.8 percent

General Updates:

Gov. Cuomo delivered (the first part of) his annual State of the State address today. (New York Times) This year’s address will come as a four-part virtual presentation throughout the week to outline his administration’s priorities for the year.
- We’ll hear more in the coming days, but some big proposals to expect will address privacy, telehealth, broadband, and worker classification.
New York is now entering its fifth week of vaccinations. Five mass vaccination sites opened in NYC yesterday and plans are underway to open hundreds more community hubs. (CBS New York) A total of 250 vaccination sites that can complete the whole process in 20 minutes per individual are expected to be open by the end of January. (Gothamist) Mayor de Blasio wants one million doses administered by the end of the month, and as of this morning, about 212,000 doses have been given since mid-December. (NYC)
- Just over eight million doses have been administered across the US so far, and worldwide, more than 26 million doses have been administered in 43 countries. Here’s a good tracker being updated with those numbers.
In an effort to accelerate that process, New Yorkers who fall into “Phase 1B” of the state’s vaccination priority groups, including people over 75 and some essential workers, can begin receiving the shot today. (Wall Street Journal) More details on that below.
The incoming Biden administration is also working on accelerating the vaccination rate with a plan to set up additional federally run mass vaccination sites, as well as release all the dosage stock currently being held back as second dose supplies. (New York Times)
New York now has four confirmed cases of the variant strain of coronavirus, two of which are related to the first case found in Saratoga Springs last week. (CBS News)
And lastly, President-elect Joe Biden has received his second and final dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. (CNN)

One read worth your time: the NYC economy’s best hope for 2021 (THE CITY)One good watch: former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger describes why democracy should never be taken for granted. (Twitter)

The latest results: Vaccine rollout has been difficult for a number of reasons: supply chain limitations, training and hiring, bureaucracy, funding, and more. To help it along, both Gov. Cuomo and Mayor de Blasio are announcing updated plans to expedite administration of the vaccine. Given distribution challenges so far, when do you think the vaccine will be available to you?

Today's poll

: New York today expanded vaccine eligibility to individuals 75+ and essential workers. While it’s still not available to the general population, progress is being made and hundreds of thousands have received their shots. Other states too, with varying degrees of success, are putting their doses to use. We’ll be asking this question again 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.

Reopening:

Beginning today, more New Yorkers are eligible to receive their first dose of the vaccine.
- That opens up eligibility to people ages 75 and older, teachers and education workers, first responders, and public transit and public safety workers. You can see the full, expanded list here.
- If you are 75+ or know someone who is 75+, find vaccination sites with available slots and make an appointment here. You can also confirm eligibility and set an appointment over the phone.
- Individuals that fall in those groups have to complete an eligibility form (found here) in advance on an appointment, and at the appointment, must present proof of employment (ID card, pay stub, employer letter, etc.).
Here’s the latest on what we know about the vaccines being manufactured and shipped to New York — and those most likely to come next:
- Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna: supplies of both vaccines continue to be delivered to New York State, at a rate of about 300,000 per week, according to Gov. Cuomo. At the end of 2020, both Pfizer and Moderna reached a second round of agreements with the US government to supply an additional 100 million doses, doubling initial orders. (POLITICO)
- Oxford-AstraZeneca: has been approved for use by the UK, Mexico, India, and Argentina, but the US is still completing late-stage trials. When and if it’s approved, it will have a few advantages: while still a two-dose regimen, it is a fraction of the cost of other doses and can be shipped and stored in normal refrigerators for up to six months, rather than the subzero storage others require. (New York Times)
- Johnson & Johnson: said it hopes to submit its emergency use authorization request to the FDA in February. It’s shot, called the “Janssen vaccine,” is unique in that it only requires a single dose to reach intended efficacy. (CNBC)
The federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) reopens today to small businesses. (CNN) The NYC Department of Small Business Services is offering technical support to NYC businesses looking to apply. Find more details here.
The MTA is expected to vote this month on whether to raise fares on subway, bus, and commuter rail systems amid massive revenue shortfalls due to coronavirus. (Wall Street Journal) The agency instituted a schedule a decade ago of raising fare and toll revenues by about four percent every two years to keep pace with inflation. A vote on subway fares is expected on Jan. 21.