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Tech:NYC Digest: January 13

Tech:NYC Digest: January 13

January 13, 2021 • Estimated Reading Time: 11 minutes

Wednesday, January 13, 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: Javits Center opens as vaccine megasite; two cases of UK variant confirmed in NYC; Ro is working with Gauss to deliver self-administered tests with results in 15 minutes; vacant NYC offices may soon be used as rapid testing sites; House votes to impeach Pres. Trump for a second time following Capitol riots.

Confirmed Cases:

New York State: 1,169,947 (+14,577)
New York City: 495,273 (+5,822)
Statewide Fatalities: 32,175 (+165)
NYC Positivity Rates:
- NYS reports: 5.9 percent (-0.1 percent)
- NYC reports: 8.4 percent (+0.2 percent)

General Updates:

According to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center, New York has become the first state in the country to surpass 40,000 coronavirus-related deaths. (Democrat & Chronicle) That number is higher than the death toll reported by the state because it includes both confirmed and probable deaths in its count.
Three state-run mass vaccination sites opened this morning across New York, including the Javits Center in Manhattan. (ABC New York) In addition, Yankee Stadium is expected to join Citi Field in opening as a 24/7 vaccination megasite. (CNN)
- Almost 268,000 doses have been administered in NYC so far, but with yesterday’s expansion of people eligible to receive the vaccine and the opening of more sites, that number is expected to begin rising more quickly.
- Data on the daily vaccination rates in NYC can be found here.
According to data provided by the city’s COVID-19 vaccine tracker, 28 percent of people who have received the vaccine in NYC so far actually reside in nearby counties and suburbs or entirely different states. (THE CITY)
Two cases of the more contagious variant strain of the coronavirus have been confirmed in NYC, one of which involves a person who had traveled to the UK. (NY1)
In response to the insurrection at the Capitol, Mayor de Blasio announced the city would terminate its contracts with the Trump Organization, which include agreements to operate the Central Park Carousel, two ice rinks in Central Park, and the Trump Golf Links, a city-owned golf course in the Bronx. (New York Times)
And lastly, as expected, the House voted this afternoon to impeach Pres. Trump exactly one week after the insurrection at the Capitol and exactly one week before he must leave office. (New York Times) Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell signaled he would not reconvene the Senate to take up the charges ahead of Inauguration Day. (Axios) But for today’s proceedings, our own home city Congressman, Jerry Nadler, perhaps had the best idea: to bring Zabar’s in for reinforcement.

The latest results: Following the violent insurrection at the Capitol last week, a growing number of elected officials and business leaders alike have called for Pres. Trump’s removal from office. Do you support the impeachment of Pres. Trump?

Today's poll

: After VP Pence declined to use the 25th Amendment to remove Pres. Trump from office, the House began the voting process on articles of impeachment against the president. For hours on end today, Democrat and Republican representatives traded off arguments for and against impeachment, primarily along predictable party lines, though with

some notable exceptions

. Did you tune in to watch or listen to the debates today?

*|SURVEY: Yes, the whole thing|*
*|SURVEY: Yes, in parts|*
*|SURVEY: No, not at all|*

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

Reopening:

Ro (a Tech:NYC member company!) announced a new partnership with Gauss to provide rapid at-home COVID-19 tests that can be self-administered and produce results in 15 minutes. (Business Insider) Find more details here.
Incoming Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said the first legislation the US Senate will take up under his leadership will be a COVID-19 relief package, including additional $1,400 stimulus checks to bring direct payments to Americans up to $2,000, plus more funding for expedited vaccine distribution and small business aid. (New York Times)
Coronavirus shutdowns and widespread mask wearing virtually quashed the spread of the flu and other common viruses this season, but scientists say a rebound is likely coming. (Washington Post)
Once vaccinations and immunity is widespread in adults, scientists predict that the coronavirus will come to resemble the common cold. (New York Times)
So when you and friends are vaccinated, does that mean can you quit social distancing? (Vox) Short answer: not immediately.