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Tech:NYC Digest: March 9

Tech:NYC Digest: March 9

March 09, 2021 • Estimated Reading Time: 10 minutes

Tuesday, March 9, 2021A note from Julie Samuels:Exactly one year ago today, while we were all trying to make sense of so many unknowns, we at Tech:NYC hit send on the first edition of this newsletter. We hope it’s been a helpful guide in navigating the avalanche of complex — and often confounding — information out there. I know we have felt a sense of purpose in writing it for you. For that, I’m grateful.There are going to be many moments of reflection this month. I still have a hard time getting my head around all we’ve lived through and what’s still to come. But I’m really starting to feel hopeful again — there’s so much good news on the vaccine rollout, beautiful sunny weather, the season’s first iced coffee! And more than anything, the return of vibrancy and bustling to the NYC streets that I love so much. We still have a long way to go to ensure a just and equitable recovery for all New Yorkers, but today — one year later — I’ve never felt more confident about NYC’s future.Was this digest forwarded to you? Subscribe here.

The latest: Vaccine eligibility expands to all 60+; House to vote on COVID relief bill Wednesday morning, Pres. Biden expected to sign before end of week; New York startup Dr. B is connecting people to leftover doses before they go to waste; new survey finds 72 percent of workers worldwide want some WFH days each week.

By the Numbers:

New York State: 1,693,328 (+6,850)
New York City: 745,591 (+3.943)
Statewide Fatalities: 39,169 (+75)
NYC Positivity Rates:
- NYS reports: 3.9 percent (-0.1 percent)
- NYC reports: 6.1 percent (-0.1 percent)
Vaccine Progress:
- NYS first doses administered: 3,867,427 (+120,522)
- NYC first doses administered: 1,277,582 (+12,013)

General Updates:

Beginning tomorrow at 8am, vaccine eligibility in New York expands to those 60 years of age or older. (NBC New York) And on March 17th, other employer-based eligibility opens up. More on that below.
New York saw a very large surge of vaccine supply with the first shipment of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which is why many sites were added and went to 24/7 operations in the last two weeks. But state officials said today that we should expect two weeks of a flat allocation, where sites will have limited supply again, until it ramps back up at the end of the month and in early April. (Wall Street Journal)
The House of Representatives will vote on the $1.9 trillion COVID relief bill tomorrow morning, after many speculated it would happen today. (The Guardian) Legislators want to get the bill to Pres. Biden’s desk before March 11, when extended unemployment funds from the last stimulus will run out.
And here’s one new tool: you can now use the MTA’s Live Subway Map app to find vaccination sites in NYC. See it here.

One good look back: One year later, what it felt like to lose time — and other stories of living through the shutdown (Washington Post)

The latest results: While restaurants statewide outside the city will soon be able to increase indoor dining to 75 percent capacity, NYC remains at 35 percent. Have you patronized a restaurant in the last month?

Today's poll

: As the economic and COVID forecast continues to improve, the weather seems to be following suit. Today started what we hope will be a long streak of beautiful days to get outside and enjoy what the city has to offer, which even during a pandemic is a ton. What did you do to take advantage of the weather today?

*|SURVEY: Took a call/meeting outdoors|*
*|SURVEY: Cancelled a call/meeting|*
*|SURVEY: Dined/plan to dine outside|*
*|SURVEY: All of the above|*
*|SURVEY: I didn't get outside today|*

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

Beginning March 17th, additional categories of people who serve in public-facing jobs will be eligible to receive the vaccine. (Gothamist)
- Those groups include government and other public workers, nonprofit workers who provide public services to New Yorkers in need (think the YWCA, child caseworkers, etc.), and essential building service workers.
Additionally, beginning March 17th, all providers will be able to vaccinate all eligible New Yorkers. (Right now, certain individuals can only receive a vaccine at certain sites, like hospitals and local health departments. This move is intended to make more streamlined options available for finding open appointment slots.) (NBC New York)
- The only exception is that pharmacies are only accepting individuals 60 years of age or older and education workers.
A New York-based startup, Dr. B, is working to put some systems in place to help the city’s vaccination sites account for “leftover” doses and make them available to anyone who can claim them in a moment’s notice, regardless of eligibility status. More than half a million people have already signed up for the service to be notified of when a dose is available near them. (New York Times)