Tech:NYC Digest: January 26

Tech:NYC Digest: January 26

January 26, 2021 • Estimated Reading Time: 13 minutes

Tuesday, January 26, 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: NYC vaccine supply nearly out, feds say shipments will increase next week; CDC says in-person schools largely not responsible for COVID transmission; health experts recommend “double-masking” to provide best protection; listen to our latest Talk:NYC episode with Artsy CEO Mike Steib and read to the bottom for Team Tech:NYC’s prime Restaurant Week tips!

Confirmed Cases:

  • New York State: 1,350,054 (+11,064)

  • New York City: 571,502 (+5,081)

  • Statewide Fatalities: 34,407 (+162)

  • NYC Positivity Rates:

    • NYS reports: 5.6 percent (no change)

    • NYC reports: 8.4 percent (no change)

General Updates:

  • Just five days past the year mark of the first confirmed coronavirus case in the US, the global case count surpassed 100 million today. (CNN) This time last year, fewer than 1,500 cases were reported to the WHO, and just 20 of those were outside China.

  • Mayor de Blasio said today that NYC has less than 7,700 doses of the vaccine left on hand, forcing many of the vaccination sites set up to temporarily close and potentially delay access to a second dose to those who’ve already received the first shot. (NY1) He and Gov. Cuomo alike have repeatedly implored the federal government to increase the state’s supply, and the White House is expected to tell governors their allocations will increase by 16 percent beginning next week. (Washington Post)

  • With those additional allocations, Pres. Biden expects the US will be able to speed up the nationwide vaccination rate from one million to 1.5 million per day. (Axios)

  • As both states and the federal government look for ways to expedite the vaccine rollout, they are simultaneously working to ensure vaccines are effective against the variant strains. (New York Times) Moderna and Pfizer have both said the current vaccines are effective against variants originating from the UK and Brazil, but less effective against the strain from South Africa. To better protect against it, new booster shots and adjustments to future vaccine manufacturing are now in the works.

  • Lastly, a small snowstorm is expected to continue through the night in NYC, bringing one to three inches of snow, but outdoor dining will be permitted to remain open. Stay warm!

One good read: from NYCEDC president James Patchett and NYC Commissioner Bitta Mostofi: A Biden immigration agenda for cities (New York Daily News)One good listen: the 2021 season of Talk:NYC launched today with a conversation with Mike Steib, the CEO of Artsy and longtime stalwart of everything that makes New York great. Julie talked with Mike about why New York breeds the most successful companies and also what the city needs from its next mayor. Listen here or wherever you get podcasts.

The latest results: Many companies have not yet decided whether workers will have to get the vaccine in order to return to the office. But while that debate lingers, some companies and executives are launching internal vaccine-promotion campaigns or otherwise preparing employees to get vaccinated as soon as they are eligible. Has your company tried to encourage or educate employees on vaccines?

Today's poll

: Recent findings show that the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines

against the strain originating in South Africa. As a precaution, Moderna is developing a booster shot to add protection from that variant, and other vaccine makers are rushing to manufacture adjusted doses in the next six weeks. Do you think this and other mutant strains will lengthen the pandemic and related restrictions?

 

 

  • *|SURVEY: Yes, significantly|*

  • *|SURVEY: Yes, but not by much|*

  • *|SURVEY: No, not at all|*

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

Reopening:

  • According to a new poll by the Association for a Better New York (ABNY), as many as 42 percent of New Yorkers expressed hesitancy in getting the vaccine, with the highest hesitancy in the outer boroughs and among communities of color. (NBC New York)

    • One note: how to support equitable access and adoption of the vaccine is something we and our partners are working on, so if you have ideas or want to help, drop us a line!

  • Updated CDC research released today urged a return to classroom instruction as soon as possible, citing school buildings as safer than their surrounding communities when the right health protocols are in place. (Washington Post) 

  • Public health experts are suggesting “double-masking” — particularly wearing a surgical mask under a cloth mask — provides maximal protection. (CNBC) Dr. Fauci also endorsed it as a “common sense” measure.

  • SUNY campuses will reopen for in-person classes beginning Feb. 1, and all individuals who come to campus will have to complete a COVID-19 test on a weekly basis. (Times Union)

  • The Dept. of Health has updated its guidance to allow high school sports deemed “high-risk” like football, basketball, and wrestling to proceed, pending approval by local health departments. (Spectrum News)

Related reading:

  • Biden is Vowing to Reopen Schools Quickly. It Won’t Be Easy. (New York Times)

  • When Commuting Comes Back, E-Scooters Will Be Ready (Bloomberg)

  • What do coronavirus variants mean for your masks? (NBC News)

Working:

  • Microsoft VP Jared Spataro says “virtual offices” built with digital whiteboards and more sophisticated videoconferencing tools will be the future of work: “You will come into the office, do your work, and then roll up your workspace and take it with you." (New Yorker)

Related reading:

  • To Revive Manhattan, Wall Street Offers Help With Vaccinations (Bloomberg)

  • The US is far more divided than ever. Your business could be the bridge. (Fast Company)

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:

  • January 27: Virtual: Global Data-Driven Change, with Rep. Yvette Clarke (NY-9) and former US CTO Megan J. Smith. Hosted by Axios. (Details)

  • February 1 – 5: Virtual: Innovation@Work, with WeWork CEO Sandeep Mathrani, Slack CTO Cal Henderson, GitHub COO Erica Brescia, and more. Hosted by the Economist. (Details)

  • February 9: Virtual: Meet the VCs Taking on Climate Change, with Union Square Ventures’ Albert Wegner. Hosted by Betaworks Studios. (Details)

Our Restaurant Week Picks

:

This week marks the annual NYC Restaurant Week, although this time around, there’s one caveat — it’s To Go. More than 500 establishments are offering lunch and dinner deals for takeout and delivery as part of the initiative. The restaurant and hospitality sector has been among the hardest hit because of the pandemic, and we hope you’ll take the opportunity to support it. Here’s how Team Tech:NYC plans to:

  • Julie: Reading the list of participating restaurants really just made me want to go to the bar at Keens for a martini. Since I can’t do that, I’ll order from there and make my own martini. It also made me nostalgic for my first Restaurant Week in 2002, when I took my 23-year-old self to both Tao and Odeon and I could not believe how lucky I was. I still feel that way about NYC everyday.

  • Sarah: Il Cantinori is my go-to for dinner with my father. Everyone knows us, the food is delicious, and it is a vestige of the Greenwich Village I grew up with (and the scene of Carrie’s ill-fated 35th birthday party — no one showed up). Plus, for Restaurant Week, you can pick between three options: chicken, veal, or ravioli!

  • Tyler: One downtown and one uptown pick: Perry Street’s fried chicken manages to feel like fine dining and a backyard barbecue at once — and if you want to make it spicy, there are some optional scotch bonnets involved. Uptown: the Ethiopian spreads at Tsion Cafe are a can’t-miss, and if you can tack on another $12 to your meal, they’ll make sure another meal gets to an essential worker who needs it.

  • Bryan: Adda is my favorite restaurant in Long Island City. A relative newcomer and gem to the neighborhood, they boast unparalleled classic Indian dishes. You won’t be disappointed with their butter chicken, samosa, and naan pairing for Restaurant Week. 

  • Ryan: Gramercy Tavern — the deals for Restaurant Week are the best way to justify having it twice in one week. I’m also looking forward to Cote for really flavorful Korean BBQ and Scarpetta for comfort food!

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

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