Information that may be of interest… April 19, 2020 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. For those who are celebrating Ramadan, Ramadan Mubarak This year Ramadan began on April 12 and ends on May 11. Photos Sculpture exhibit in Pershing Square 1 Sculptor Jim Rennert, Presented by Cavalier Gallery, cavaliergalleries.com. Artist in residence Vincent Ballentine on view at 5th Avenue storefront 5th Avenue, across from the New York Public Library At Andaz 5th Avenue @andaz5th 2 Sign The Petition to NYC Mayoral Candidates: Our Next Mayor Must Value Preserving Landmarks and Neighborhoods The campaign for Mayor of New York City is in full swing, with primary elections June 22. The next Mayor needs to know that historic preservation makes for a better and more resilient NYC. It encourages investment and economic development, it’s green, it helps preserve, protect, and uplift diverse histories and communities, and makes it easier for longtime residents and small businesses to stay in their homes. Big real estate is pouring millions into the Mayoral race, and they’re gunning for longstanding landmark and zoning protections that put people and communities first. Let the candidates know you want a diverse, sustainable, equitable and beautiful NYC, and that historic preservation is a key part of that. Sign the petition to Mayoral candidates sponsored by Village Preservation and a coalition of NYC preservation and neighborhood organizations. Sign the petition chng.it/cRRPvhWwD7. The Murray Hill Neighborhood Association endorses this petition. How you can help Citizen Public Health Training (several dates available) New York State’s free new online course to help people recover from the pandemic and prepare for future health crises. In partnership with Cornell University, the 16-hour course will focus on health communication and community engagement to empower New Yorkers as public health leaders. Register at nypublichealth.cornell.edu/nyspublichealth and preview course materials at youtube.com/watch?v=diOOpJZZvQM. Blood Donations Are Urgently Needed The NYC blood supply is at a very low level. If you want to donate, a nearby blood center is: 3 New York Blood Center - Grand Central (please make an appointment) 115 East 41st Street, 800-933-2566, nybloodcenter.org NYC’s reopening New York City is in Phase 4 of the coronavirus reopening, but some activities are on temporary PAUSE or open with reduced capacity due to the high community rate of coronavirus infections. New York Forward Phase 4 webpage. New York State reopening pages: phases, micro-cluster strategy, travel advisory, testing, etc. at forward.ny.gov. New York City reopening guidance www1.nyc.gov/nycbusiness/article/reopening-guide. New York State coronavirus page coronavirus.health.ny.gov/home. New Starting April 19, bars and restaurants’ curfew will be extended from 11 pm to midnight. International travelers to New York, even unvaccinated ones, no longer have to quarantine upon arrival, according to the State, though they are advised to get tested for COVID 3-5 days after landing. They are still required to show that they received a negative covid test prior to boarding an airplane. CDC travel guidelines. Effective May 1, indoor and outdoor graduation and commencement ceremonies will be allowed with limited capacity, depending on event size and location. All event organizers and venues hosting ceremonies must follow the State's strict health and safety protocols, including requiring face masks, social distancing, health screenings and collection of contact tracing information. Detailed guidance for graduation events is available at coronavirus.health.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2021/04/doh_covid19_updatedgraduationguid ance_041221.pdf. Large performing arts and sports venues are allowed to reopen. Outdoor venues with 2,500+ capacity are capped at 20%; indoor venues with 1,500+ capacity are capped at 10%. Proof of a negative Covid-19 test or immunization is required for all attendees. Social distancing and face coverings will be required for all attendees, as well as strict adherence to all applicable NYS Department of Health guidance. NYS Department of Health’s Interim Guidance for Large Scale Performing Arts and Entertainment Venues during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency is available on the New York Forward Phase 4 webpage. Small and medium performances and live entertainment events are allowed to reopen. Indoor venues with a capacity of less than 1,500 attendees can reopen at 33% capacity up to 100 people or 150 people with proof of a negative Covid-19 test or immunization from all attendees. Outdoor venues with a capacity of less than 2,500 attendees can reopen at 33% capacity, with up to 200 4 people or 500 people with proof of a negative Covid-19 test or immunization from all attendees. Social distancing and face coverings will be required for all attendees, as well as strict adherence to all applicable NYS Department of Health guidance. NYS Department of Health Interim Guidance for Small and Medium Scale Performing Arts and Entertainment during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency is available on the New York Forward Phase 4 webpage. The deadline for applications to the U.S. Small Business Administration's Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) has been extended to May 31. To connect New York City’s small business owners to federal relief funds, the NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS) has launched Fair Share NYC, offering free webinars, technical assistance and access to lenders to help businesses interested in applying for PPP loans. Flyer www1.nyc.gov/assets/sbs/downloads/pdf/businesses/covid19/fairsharenyc/PPP-flyer.pdf or call 888-SBS-4NYC. The opening of the application portal for the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (formerly Save Our Stages) remains temporary suspended due to technical problems. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) confirmed that it has not accepted any applications or distributed any funding. sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/covid-19-relief-options/shuttered-venue-operators-grant Three Things to Know about the Restaurant Revitalization Fund. Get the program details such as eligibility, funding amount, allowable use of funds and more at sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/covid-19-relief-options/restaurant-revitalization-fund. Sign up for RRF email updates at public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USSBA/subscriber/new?topic_id=USSBA_354. Prepare your application. Currently, SBA is not accepting applications for RRF. However, you can prepare your application by reviewing the sample application, program guide and cross-program eligibility chart. You will be able to apply through SBA-recognized Point of Sale Restaurant Partners or directly via SBA in a forthcoming online application portal. Registration with SAM.gov is not required. DUNS or CAGE identifiers are also not required. When to apply. The official application launch date will be announced shortly. For the first 21 days that the program is open, the SBA will prioritize reviewing applications from small businesses owned by women, veterans, and socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. Following the 21-day period, all eligible applicants are encouraged to submit applications. See murrayhillnyc.org for additional COVID-19 information, including Reopening 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 test rate for Murray Hill (zip code 10016) has declined significantly in the past weeks. NYC has neighborhoods that still have covid rates as high as 10.24%. Keep bending the curve, Murray Hill! 5 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 still no cure for COVID-19, and it will take months to get herd immunity from the vaccines. To stop the spread of COVID-19: • wear face coverings when you are with people who are not in the same household • maintain distance (6 feet between people who are not in the same household) • 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 Vaccinations are free. The NYC Vaccine Finder site has improved and it now tells you everywhere in NYC that vaccinations are available and the type(s) of vaccination offered vaccinefinder.nyc.gov. Or call 877-VAX-4NYC (877-829-4692). Johnson & Johnson vaccinations are on pause, while the CDC and FDA investigate the cause of 6 instances of blood clots occurring in women who were vaccinated. 6.8 million people have received the J&J vaccination in the U.S., and the blood clots are very rare occurrences. J&J vaccinations will be replaced with Pfizer or Moderna vaccinations during the pause. As a result of this pause, the homebound and mobile vaccinations are also suspended. 6 For members of the performing arts and entertainment community who are working, living or attending school in New York City, The Actors Fund can help schedule COVID-19 vaccine appointments at ATC's Broadway Vaccination Site (ATC Vaccination Times Square, located at 47th Street & 7th Avenue).