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Tech:NYC Digest: November 5

Tech:NYC Digest: November 5

November 05, 2020 • Estimated Reading Time: 10 minutes

Thursday, November 5, 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: US marks highest ever single-day coronavirus case increase; NYS launches Flu Tracker to monitor influenza activity as health officials deal with simultaneous rising COVID caseloads; NYC startups benefit from pro-renter market as they refocus office needs; the flu season could seriously impact our ability to control COVID, learn how to get vaccinated here.

Confirmed Cases:

New York State: 518,812 (+2,997)
New York City: 267,460 (+1,067)
Statewide Fatalities: 25,892 (+24)
Daily NYC Infection Rate: 1.5 percent (no change)

General Updates:

Yesterday, the US recorded more than 100,000 new coronavirus cases in a single day for the first time since the pandemic began. (Washington Post)
In New York, the average citywide positivity rate is inching closer to two percent, and cases are growing particularly fast in two Staten Island zip codes. (New York Daily News) And in New Jersey, officials expect the state’s second wave of COVID-19 cases to peak in the first quarter of 2021. That state is now recording a consistently high rate of 1,000+ hospitalizations per day, more than double the rate a month ago. (Bloomberg)
Individual rapid COVID-19 tests are becoming more available — which is good — but if we rely on them too much and they’re performed outside of specific reporting processes, we risk losing critical data about who and where the virus is impacting most. (STAT News) New York officials said they are working to get sites that administer rapid tests certified and reporting results as quickly as possible.
With the prospect of federal relief remaining uncertain, hundreds of top administrators across CUNY’s 25 campuses will be furloughed. (New York Post) CUNY’s finances are strained as enrollment fell 5.1 percent (a $32 million hit, minimum) and budget constraints have caused the state to withhold 20 percent of its regular funding.
In local election news: Republican Party leaders in New York said they expect to pick up four seats in the State Senate, with the GOP picking up seats primarily in New York suburbs. (New York Times) Democrats had hoped to cross into a veto-proof supermajority of 42 seats, but it appears they are unlikely to make the mark, with only 36 of the 63 seats secured. (Times Union) When it comes to a handful of congressional races: yes, it’s still too early to call.
And if the days-long anxiety of waiting for election results has you giving in to vices more than usual, give yourself a break: you’re not alone.

Today’s poll: If you’re like us, then you’re probably feeling like it’s been a long week — but also a bit of a blur. (It’s Thursday by the way.) As if the pandemic wasn’t enough to distort our sense of time, the restlessness, continuous Twitter refreshing, and cascading anxiety has turned this week into something between an instant and an eternity. What has your sleep schedule looked like this week?

*|SURVEY: I’ve slept more than normal this week|*
*|SURVEY: I’ve slept less than normal this week|*
*|SURVEY: I’ve slept about the same this week|*
*|SURVEY: What is sleep?|*

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

Reopening:

While the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic is ongoing, we’re also entering flu season. Gov. Cuomo announced the launch of the New York State Flu Tracker, which will display daily and weekly data about flu activity, both regionally and statewide. Get the daily tacker here and the weekly tracker here (updated every Thursday evening).
Families with public school students who opted into all-remote instruction can now switch to blended learning that gives students 2-3 days of in-person instruction each week. Parents who wish to make the switch must do so by Nov. 15. (CBS New York) It’s unknown whether there will be another opt-in opportunity later in the school year.
Outdoor dining pods are popping up all over, but those plastic tents or domes that are more enclosed for the winter months carry additional risks. (Washington Post) In particular, adequate ventilation becomes almost impossible, so only dine in one with people you trust or who don’t pose a transmission risk.
This week, the NYC Ferry’s winter service schedule went into effect. Get the new schedules here and plan your trip accordingly.