Information That May Be of Interest… June 28, 2021 This Information Is Provided by the Murray Hill Neighborhood Association
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Information that may be of interest… June 28, 2021 This information is provided by The Murray Hill Neighborhood Association. We are sharing it as a service to our members. If this notice does not interest you, please disregard it. You can also find these weekly newsletters online in PDF (printable) format at www.murrayhillnyc.org in the News section, look for Weekly Eblasts 2021. Please share this email with a friend, neighbor or colleague. You can sign up for these emails at www.murrayhillnyc.org, scroll down the Also Happening column. Photo gallery Grand Central Terminal flags 1 Scenes from the Summer Solstice Festival produced by Grand Central Partnership: Mala Waldron Jazz Group malawaldron.com, play date Traffic advisory East 36th Street between Lexington & Park Avenue, weekend closures through July 25. This street will be closed Saturday from 8am to 6pm and Sunday from 9am to 6pm through 7/25/21 for major gas installation. Loud drilling may be heard. 2 Sunday, July 4th 8pm Macy's 4th of July Fireworks Live on NBC, and hear the live musical score, "A Hero's Journey" on 1010 WINS. This year Macy's is honoring America's everyday heroes from communities across the country & the resilient spirit within us all. We join them to look ahead with renewed hope for a brighter tomorrow. Top vocalists, a military band & an orchestra’s cinematic sounds come together in a special salute to American bravery & optimism. Learn more at macys.com/social/fireworks. Check the NYC Department of Transportation (DOT)’s website for road closures www1.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/motorist/wkndtraf.shtml. The purchase, possession, and setting off of fireworks is not permitted in NYC. If you know of the sale or possession of fireworks, call the FDNY Fireworks Enforcement hotline at 718-722-3600. Report illegal use of fireworks to 311. How you can help Through July 4, the National Vaccine Month of Action We Can Do This Campaign is asking everyone to get vaccinated. Stay safe, and help your community stay safe! Learn more about how you can help at mobilize.us/madetosave. Blood Donations Are Urgently Needed 3 The NYC blood supply is at a very low level. If you want to donate, a nearby blood center is: New York Blood Center - Grand Central (please make an appointment) 115 East 41st Street, 800-933-2566, nybloodcenter.org NYC’s reopening New York State and NYC reached the goal of a 70% vaccination rate for adults, and the community rate of infection, hospitalizations and deaths is low. As a result, most of the covid restrictions have been lifted and the New York’s State of Emergency has been allowed to expire. For information about specific NY agencies, check with the agency’s website. Federal guidelines are still in effect. Learn more at the links below. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) covid webpage cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html Federal laws and regulations regarding covid cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cdcresponse/laws- regulations.html CDC Interim Guidance for Fully Vaccinated People cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully- vaccinated.html U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) webpage on covid vaccines fda.gov/emergency- preparedness-and-response/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/covid-19-vaccines U.S. Department of State COVID-19 Travel Guidance for U.S. Citizens travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/ea/covid-19-information1.html Federal resources for small businesses that are impacted by covid covid-sb.org. New York State reopening guidance for businesses forward.ny.gov and governor.ny.gov/sites/default/files/2021-05/NYS_CDCGuidance_Summary.pdf. Learn more at forward.ny.gov/active-industry-guidance. New York State information about reopening, covid rates and zones, vaccination program, covid restrictions and guidance, travel advisory, etc. coronavirus.health.ny.gov/home. New York City covid webpage (for individuals and businesses) www1.nyc.gov/site/coronavirus/index.page. New York State Business Pandemic Recovery Initiative. The Empire State Development page with information about grants, tax credits, and technical assistance programs for businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn more at esd.ny.gov/business-pandemic-recovery-initiative. 4 New York City Department of Health (DOH) covid webpage www1.nyc.gov/site/doh/covid/covid- 19-main.page The NYC Citywide Information Portal with resource guides for businesses and individuals www1.nyc.gov/site/coronavirus/resources/resources-for-new-yorkers.page and 311 portal.311.nyc.gov have created COVID-specific resource guides for New Yorkers. New York's state policies and regulations that are resumed as a result of the expiration of New York's state of emergency: Open Meetings Law. Community Boards and other applicable entities must hold in-person public meetings. State Senator Brad Hoylman has introduced legislation to amend the law and allow virtual/in-person hybrid meetings. State Senator Liz Krueger supports this legislation. Unemployment claim waiting period. There is an obligatory waiting period after filing an unemployment claim, including unemployment due to the pandemic. Home-delivered meals for older adults. Older adults must have an interview and demonstrate they are unable to make meals for themselves, and do not have support from friends or family. Shelter stays for victims of domestic violence. Domestic violence victims may stay in shelter for up to 90 days. Two 45-day extensions may be granted. Business tax credit recipient requirements. If a business operates and performs work in New York, and receives subsidies, all employees must work in New York. Utility shut offs. Utility shut-off protections are available only for individuals who can demonstrate a pandemic-related change in financial circumstances, in which case protections are extended for six months with the possibility of having a deferred payment agreement that excludes late fees and penalties. Consumers in arrears are eligible for an additional 180-day “grace period” from service terminations, but only if they notify their utility and “self-certify” to a change in financial circumstance due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Driver licenses and permits. New Yorkers must renew driver licenses and permits that expired after March 1, 2020. The federal REAL ID enforcement deadline has been extended until May 3, 2023 (dhs.gov/real-id). Telehealth. Telehealth providers and patients must abide by state law regarding location requirements. Child Care program closures. Child Care programs receiving subsidies may not close more than five days. 5 Take-out/delivery of wine & liquor. Restaurants and bars may not sell wine or liquor for take-out or delivery (beer and cider are still permitted). Sale of alcohol in outdoor spaces. Restaurants and bars may not sell alcohol in the outdoor spaces where the practice was permitted during the state of emergency, unless they participate in NYC’s Open Restaurants program. New NYS covid-related legislation and assistance 6/24/2021 The state will provide $25 million in child care scholarships for essential workers. As of June 23, 2021, these scholarships are the first in a series of new investments to support working families and the child care industry through the federal CARES Act. Apply at ocfs.ny.gov/main/contracts/funding/COVID-relief/essential-workers.php. 6/24/2021 The Governor signed the Safe Staffing Bill to improve the care given at our health care facilities. This law will give nurses and other health care facility staff stronger voices at their hospitals and ensure that these facilities collaboratively plan for the future. 6/24/2021 Through July 4, free child care is available to parents and caregivers getting vaccinated or recovering from the vaccine. Parents and caregivers can sign up for free child care if they need additional support while getting the COVID-19 vaccine or recovering from the vaccine. Sign up at vaccines.gov/incentives.html. See murrayhillnyc.org for additional COVID-19 information, including Testing Vaccinations Neighborhood houses of worship, museums, educational and cultural institutions Neighborhood restaurants, food & spirits that are open for delivery & pickup Neighborhood retail, health care (including pets) & services that are open The positive Covid-19 rate for Murray Hill (zip code 10016, population 50,912), snapshot taken on 6/26/2021. 6 The above data is from the NYC Department of Health website COVID-19 tracker www1.nyc.gov/site/doh/covid/covid-19-data.page The view is the 7-day Percent Positive and Test Rate by ZIP code (for Zip code 10016). New York State COVID-19 tracker forward.ny.gov/percentage-positive-results-county-dashboard. IMPORTANT: There is no cure for COVID-19. To stop the spread take a layered approach: • get vaccinated • wear face coverings if you are unvaccinated or when you are with unvaccinated people • maintain distance (6 feet between people if unvaccinated) • practice good hand hygiene • stay home if sick (seek care if you feel seriously ill) When community rates of infection are high, limit non-essential activities, travel and indoor gatherings with people who are not in your household. NYS travel advisory coronavirus.health.ny.gov/covid-19-travel-advisory. Vaccinations Vaccines are free and are now readily available for people over 12 years of age. The NYC Vaccine Finder tells you everywhere in NYC that vaccinations are available and the type of vaccination offered vaccinefinder.nyc.gov. Check the MHNA webpage Vaccinations for additional information. 7 Walgreens, RiteAid and CVS participate in the Federal vaccination program. They will be listed on the vaccinefinder.nyc.gov app. Check with your neighborhood pharmacy to find out if they are offering vaccinations. Your primary care physician may offer vaccinations. The NYC In-Home Vaccination Program now includes all NYC residents who are age 12+.