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Tech:NYC Digest: November 18

Tech:NYC Digest: November 18

November 18, 2020 • Estimated Reading Time: 12 minutes

Wednesday, November 18, 2020As NYC’s reopening and recovery efforts continue, 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 schools to close Thursday as positivity rate exceeds three percent threshold; NYC could soon be designated an “orange zone” per state guidelines, causing many businesses to close; Pfizer completes vaccine trial, will have doses for 12.5 million Americans by year’s end; Cuomo launches free online job training program to help unemployed New Yorkers improve qualifications.

Confirmed Cases:

New York State: 574,072 (+5,294)
New York City: 287,022 (+1,747)
Statewide Fatalities: 26,225 (+35)
NYC Positivity Rates:
- NYS reports: 2.5 percent (no change)
- NYC reports: 3.0 percent (+0.25 percent)

General Updates:

Alright, buckle in everyone. There was a lot of news this afternoon about new measures the city and state are taking in light of the ongoing rise in new cases. Here’s what you need to know:

One important thing to note, because we know it gets confusing: while Mayor de Blasio is reporting that city data shows a three percent positivity rate for NYC based on a seven-day rolling average, Gov. Cuomo is reporting that state data shows a 2.5 percent positivity rate for NYC based on a seven-day rolling average. (ABC New York)
- The primary reason those two numbers aren’t the same is that NYC counts new tests based on the date a test is taken, rather than the date the result of that test is reported.
Since, according to the city’s data, that positivity rate has reached three percent as of today, all public schools in NYC will be closed to in-person instruction as of tomorrow until further notice. (New York Times)
- Statewide, the latest positivity rate based on a seven-day rolling average is not far behind the city, coming in today at 2.9 percent. (Gothamist)
While the mayor is closing NYC public schools, Gov. Cuomo announced these new and updated hotspot designations based on his 2.5 percent rate:
- The current “yellow zone” in Queens is being expanded to include more of the borough, and a new “yellow zone” is being added to a segment of the Bronx. (New York Times)
- If the state’s data determines that the positivity rate in NYC hits three percent (remember: the state’s counting currently records NYC’s rate as 2.5 percent), NYC will be designated as an “orange zone.” In addition to requiring schools to go all-remote, it would require the city to return to outdoor dining only and the closure of high-risk nonessential businesses like gyms, salons, and barbershops. (Patch NYC)
- There have, however, been a few improvements: Brooklyn’s “orange zone” can be downgraded to a “yellow zone.” and Broome and Orange County “yellow zones” can be removed. (Press & Sun-Bulletin)
- As a reminder, here’s an outline of the restrictions associated with each zone designation.
Schools will be closed at least until the week after Thanksgiving. Mayor de Blasio said today that additional measures will be announced in the coming week, particularly on what the reopening standards will be for school buildings to reopen. (CBS New York) Private schools will not be impacted by the closure, but many are still putting plans in place should they have to follow suit. (Bloomberg)

Yesterday's results: Over the last eight months, government officials and business leaders alike have been paying close attention to the pandemic’s impact on New York’s economic outlook. How long do you think it will take for NYC’s finances to recover?

Today's poll

: The decision to close NYC schools, while not welcomed by many, was one officials have been warning may come for over a week. Many critics

are arguing

that it doesn’t really make sense to close schools while businesses, like restaurants, gyms, and salons, are allowed to remain open. What do you think the correct course of action is?

*|SURVEY: Close schools, keep nonessential businesses open|*
*|SURVEY: Keep schools open, close nonessential businesses|*
*|SURVEY: Close both schools and nonessential businesses|*
*|SURVEY: Keep both schools and nonessential businesses open|*

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

Reopening:

More granular data shows that the rate of new coronavirus cases is now rising in 83 percent of US counties. (Axios) NYC is now averaging about 294 cases per 100,000 people.
Some good news: Pfizer has completed its vaccine trial, releasing results showing it is 95 percent effective and has no serious side effects. In older adults, the vaccine is 94 percent effective. The company said it plans to apply for emergency use authorization from the FDA within days and could have enough doses for 25 million people available by the end of the year, half of which would be for the US. (New York Times)
- While that’s good news, the next challenge will be getting hundreds of millions more doses by next spring. Specifically, it’ll require robust access to raw vaccine ingredients and more widespread use of new technologies not yet tested at scale. (New York Times)
Speaking of FDA authorization: the agency has authorized the first prescription at-home coronavirus test that can be used by people who are at least 14 years old. It must be prescribed by a health provider who suspects the patient has COVID-19. (POLITICO)
Pandemic fatigue has set in, right in time for the holiday season. The TSA expects to screen six million travelers over the Thanksgiving holiday, and 59 percent of students traveling home for the holiday expect to return to campus afterward. (Axios) New York is discouraging travel and has ordered that gatherings in homes be limited to ten people ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, but law enforcement officials are increasingly saying compliance is virtually unenforceable. (New York Times)
- If you do plan to go ahead with travel and visiting others, the CDC has released holiday-specific guidance, including continuing to wear a mask and avoid crowds, even if you’ve had a coronavirus test or have quarantined for 14 days.
With cases rising heading into the winter, supermarkets like Wegmans are reinstating purchasing limits on the types of items many of us were panic buying in the spring. (Syracuse Post-Standard) Many manufacturers have caught up with demand since then and purchasing restrictions have been eased, but grocers expect the holiday season will create another surge in demand. (Crain’s NY)
NYC is opening two new large rapid testing sites this week, one in Queens and another on Staten Island. (News 12) The city can now conduct around 300,000 tests per day.