Tech:NYC Newsletter
Posts
Tech:NYC Digest: March 8

Tech:NYC Digest: March 8

March 08, 2021 • Estimated Reading Time: 11 minutes

Monday, March 8, 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: New CDC guidance says fully vaxxed can interact sans masks; NYC high schools set to reopen for in-person learning March 22nd; state Sen. Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins calls for Cuomo to resign; in the UK, labor groups worry employer-mandated vaccines will lead to greater socioeconomic and ethnic discrimination in the job market; happy International Women's Day!

By the Numbers:

New York State: 1,686,478 (+5,309)
New York City: 741,648 (+2,747)
Statewide Fatalities: 39,093 (+64)
NYC Positivity Rates:
- NYS reports: 4.0 percent (no change)
- NYC reports: 6.2 percent (-0.2 percent)
Vaccine Progress:
- NYS first doses administered: 3,746,905
- NYC first doses administered: 1,265,569

General Updates:

NYC Health Commissioner Dr. Dave Chokshi expressed further confidence in the city’s vaccine rollout, saying that vaccines could be available to everyone as soon as late April. (Bloomberg)
- The mass vaccination site at the Javits Center, which has expanded to 24/7 operations, administered more than 13,000 doses each day this weekend, making it the most active site in the country. (NYS)
As vaccination rates continue to progress here and across the country, the CDC issued new guidance that permits fully vaccinated people to gather in small groups without masks. (Wall Street Journal) More on that below.
Pressure against Gov. Cuomo continues to escalate, with state Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins being the latest (and highest-ranking) member of the legislature to call for his resignation. (Washington Post) The governor has reiterated he has no plans to resign, and with budget negotiations in full swing, an impeachment vote doesn’t look likely either. (The Hill)
- He did, however, sign legislation curbing his pandemic emergency powers. While he can no longer unilaterally put any new orders in effect, he can still extend orders already in place. (NPR)
The House is set to vote as early as tomorrow on Pres. Biden’s $1.9 trillion stimulus package, which was passed by the Senate on Saturday. (CNBC) The vote tees up Pres. Biden to sign the bill before the end of the week. (Washington Post)
You’ve heard about the UK variant, and you’ve heard about the South Africa variant. But have you heard the UK-South Africa combo variant? Scientists found it in Oregon. (New York Times)
And lastly, Happy International Women’s Day. It’s a good day to remind you that women, and particularly women of color, have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. We’re glad to see Pres. Biden taking that seriously.

The latest results: Despite warnings from the CDC and public health officials, states like Texas and Mississippi this week rescinded their mask mandates and will allow business to reopen at full capacity, claiming those mandates are no longer needed in the wake of ongoing vaccinations. Would you visit Texas or other states that have similarly relaxed COVID-related restrictions?

Today's poll

: While restaurants statewide outside the city will soon be able to

increase indoor dining

to 75 percent capacity, NYC remains at 35 percent. Many say indoor capacity needs to be upped further but that probably won’t change who’s willing to go — mostly,

it’s millennials

— as the CDC says they’re still

contributing to much of the virus spread

. Have you patronized a restaurant in the last month?

*|SURVEY: Yes, I've dined indoors|*
*|SURVEY: Yes, I've dined outdoors|*
*|SURVEY: Yes, both|*
*|SURVEY: Yes, but only takeout/delivery|*
*|SURVEY: No|*

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

New guidance from the CDC shares a set of looser restrictions for those who have been fully vaccinated, allowing them to socialize in small groups without masks. (Washington Post)
- The guidance also says that fully vaccinated people can visit with low-risk individuals from other households even if those people haven’t yet received the vaccine.
- They may also refrain from mandatory quarantine and testing following a known exposure to COVID-19, if asymptomatic. (Axios)
- But even those who are fully vaccinated should continue to practice mask wearing and social distancing when in public.
Ten additional mass vaccination sites will be set up across the state, including one in the Bronx, as the federal supply of vaccines continues to increase. See the new locations here.
NYC’s 488 public high schools will reopen on March 22nd, with about half offering full-time instruction for most or all in-person students to start. (New York Times) All other grade levels have also reopened for some in-person instruction, and Mayor de Blasio said a full reopening of the entire system should be expected by the fall.
Restaurants statewide outside of NYC will be permitted to increase capacity limits for indoor dining to 75 percent beginning March 19th. (Eater NY) NYC establishments continue to operate at 35 percent capacity for now.