Tech:NYC Newsletter
Posts
Tech:NYC Digest: March 11

Tech:NYC Digest: March 11

March 11, 2021 • Estimated Reading Time: 11 minutes

Thursday, March 11, 2021As the vaccination rollout progresses and NYC continues to respond to the pandemic, this 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: One year since WHO declared global pandemic; Biden signs $1.9T stimulus into law on his “50th” day in office; 100 new vaccine sites opening statewide with new federal funds; beginning April 1, domestic travelers to NY no longer required to quarantine.

By the Numbers:

New York State: 1,706,564 (+6,747)
New York City: 752,559 (+3,548)
Statewide Fatalities: 39,311 (+80)
NYC Positivity Rates:
- NYS reports: 3.9 percent (no change)
- NYC reports: 6.4 percent (+0.2 percent)
Vaccine Progress:
- NYS first doses administered: 4,073,412
- NYC first doses administered: 2,078,086

General Updates:

One year ago today, the WHO officially declared the coronavirus a pandemic.
- A year ago, the US had about 1,000 confirmed coronavirus cases. Today, we’re approaching 30 million. (Axios)
- With the CARES Act, the follow-up bill, and the package passed yesterday, Congress will have spent some $5 trillion on relief programs so far. (New York Times)
- But even the most optimistic projections didn’t expect we’d have the vaccine already — not to mention that almost 65 million Americans would have gotten their first dose. (New York Times)
This afternoon, Pres. Biden signed the $1.9 trillion stimulus package into law, a day earlier than expected. (CNN) Now federal agencies face the massive task of implementing the plan, and the White House has rolled out a new website to help Americans find out how to receive their direct payments, as well as other ways the package might affect them.
The CDC confirmed last year was the deadliest year in recorded US history, with COVID-19 accounting for a roughly 15 percent spike in deaths. (POLITICO)
We get plenty of updates on the New Yorkers currently eligible to receive the vaccine, but do you know who’s up next? Here’s a useful tool (for New York and every other state) to help.
At 8pm ET tonight, Pres. Biden will deliver his first primetime address, where he’s expected to memorialize the last year, as well as outline “the next phase” of the country’s COVID response. (Washington Post) Here’s how to tune in.

One read we enjoyed: People like to say you become a New Yorker after 10 years. But those of us who stayed through 2020 should get extra credit. (New York Times)

The latest results: The House today passed the American Rescue Plan, a $1.9 trillion economic relief package proposed by Pres. Biden, and New York is expected to receive about $100 billion. Does the stimulus bill shift your confidence in New York’s ability to recover economically?

Today's poll

: Today marks Pres. Biden’s 50th day in office — depending on who you ask. (Some say it’s day 51, but his staff asserts that inauguration day did not count, making today, when he signs the American Rescue Plan into law and gives his first primetime address, the

nice even number 50

.) In that time, 34 executive orders have been signed and $1.9 trillion has been injected into the economy. With an approval rating of more than 53 percent, Pres. Biden is more popular than Pres. Trump was

on any day of his four year presidency

. How do you feel about our current president

*|SURVEY: Strongly approve|*
*|SURVEY: Somewhat approve|*
*|SURVEY: Neither approve nor disapprove|*
*|SURVEY: Somewhat disapprove|*
*|SURVEY: Strongly disapprove|*

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

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer joined Mayor de Blasio’s daily briefing to announce that, thanks to new funding available through the federal stimulus package, more than 100 new vaccination sites will open across New York State at community health centers. (POLITICO) Doses at these sites will be supplied directly from the federal government, separate from the weekly allotment already sent to the state.
Gov. Cuomo announced today that, beginning April 1st, domestic travelers will no longer be required to quarantine upon arrival from another state. (NBC New York) All travelers must continue to fill out the Traveler Health Form upon arrival for contact tracing purposes.
Nursing home visitations are now permitted under new guidance from the Biden administration, regardless of whether guests or residents have been vaccinated. It’s the first revision of the federal government’s nursing home guidance since Sept. (New York Times)
- The CDC also released guidance saying it’s safe for grandparents who’ve received both doses of the vaccine to visit family members, even unvaccinated ones. But some families are saying: not so fast. (Washington Post)
With warmer weather approaching, 22 branches of the Brooklyn Public Library system are building “outdoor living rooms” where patrons can read books and other materials outside, as well as make use of free WiFi connections, beginning in April. (Wall Street Journal)
And The Shed, the large performing arts venue in Hudson Yards, said it would reopen to present a short series of indoor performances to limited audiences beginning next month. (New York Times) Audience size will be capped at 150 (in a venue that normally seats 1,280) and proof of a negative test or vaccination will be required.
- New Yorkers are certainly eager to get back into art and theatre venues — Park Avenue Armory’s #SocialDistanceHall season sold out in a matter of hours.