Information that may be of interest… February 22, 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. The NYPD CrimeStoppers is asking for our help! An assault occurred in a neighborhood ice cream store on 30th Street and 3rd Avenue, harming a worker. A reward is being offered for information. Please see the NYPD flyer at the link below and also a blow-up of the face. NYPD flyer Blow-up Traffic alerts! East 36th Street between Lexington Avenue and Park Avenue: This street will be closed from 9am to 6pm Saturday and Sunday through February 28, for major gas installation. Infrastructure upgrades along 2nd and 3rd Avenue, and surrounding areas (MED607). The Department of Design & Construction alerted Community Board 6 that due to heavy utility interferences at various locations throughout the project, the anticipated completion date has been delayed to Spring 2023. DDC 1 notes that this delay is due to the need to remove the utility interferences, which requires time to complete. The work will be done on 1st, 2nd Avenue, 3rd Avenue, 33rd Street and 35th Street. For further information visit www.murrayhillnyc.org, Traffic Updates section. Should you wear 2 masks? Here’s the NYC mask guidance: www1.nyc.gov/assets/doh/downloads/pdf/imm/covid-19-face-covering- faq.pdf. CDC’s guide to masks cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/effective-masks.html How you can help 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: New York Blood Center - Grand Central (please make an appointment) 115 East 41st Street, 800-933-2566, nybloodcenter.org Survey: What are your NYC budget priorities? Manhattan Borough President Brewer is seeking public input on her annual Borough Board Budget Priorities Report, a statutory requirement of the City Charter. By Tuesday, March 16, please fill out this short survey about what budget issues are important to you. You can submit additional comments to [email protected]. Responses to the questionnaire will remain confidential and will be added to her final report to the Mayor, City Council, and Office of Management and Budget. Community Board 6 Survey for people who have watched CB6 meetings on Zoom or YouTube As Community Board 6 approaches the one year mark of transitioning CB6 meetings from in-person to on Zoom, they've created a survey for the public to learn more about what everyone thinks about their virtual 2 meetings. They survey is for anyone that has joined a CB6 meeting on Zoom or YouTube. Please fill out the survey and share it with other people who have joined virtual CB6 meetings airtable.com/shrx2ehuX6HuW2ioQ. NYC’s reopening New York City is in Phase 4 of the coronavirus reopening, but many activities are on temporary PAUSE or open with reduced capacity due to the high community rate of coronavirus infections. Learn more about the reopening phases, micro-cluster strategy, travel advisory, testing, etc. at forward.ny.gov. Beginning February 22, subway closing hours for daily cleaning will be from 2-4am. This is reduces the time closed, which has been from 1-5am during the pandemic. On February 26, indoor dining in restaurants can increase to 35% capacity. Beginning March 15, larger events that follow strict guidelines will be permitted. Marriage receptions can be held under limited state guidelines. Events must be approved by the local health department and there will be mandatory testing of all guests before an event. Capacity at weddings and receptions will be limited to no more than 150 people or no more than 50 percent of the venue's capacity, whichever is lower. All patrons must be tested prior to the event. Starting March 26, indoor family entertainment centers will be able to reopen with 25% capacity and health protocols. Starting April 9 outdoor amusement parks can open with a 33% capacity. Day and overnight summer camps in New York State can begin to plan for reopening. The Department of Health will issue specific reopening guidance, including details on timing, in the coming weeks. New York will follow updated CDC quarantine guidelines for fully vaccinated individuals. The Centers for Disease Controls announced that individuals who have received both vaccine doses, and at least two weeks have passed since the second dose, are no longer required to quarantine if they are exposed to someone who is infected with the virus. New York is updating our guidance to follow the CDC governor.ny.gov/news/statement-governor-andrew-m-cuomo-and-new-york-state-health-commissioner-dr- howard-zucker. All New Yorkers, including those who have been fully vaccinated, should continue to wear masks, social distance, and practice hand hygiene until herd immunity is reached and this pandemic is fully controlled. CDC guidelines When to Quarantine cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/quarantine.html (updated 2/11/2021) People who have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19 are not required to quarantine if they have been fully vaccinated against the disease within the last three months and show no symptoms. 3 New York City reopening guidance www1.nyc.gov/nycbusiness/article/reopening-guide. New York State page about reopening, covid rates and zones, vaccination program, covid restrictions and guidance, travel advisory, etc. coronavirus.health.ny.gov/home. 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 rate for Murray Hill (zip code 10016) is lower than the country, state and city average, but it went up in the last period, and is too high. Let’s stop the spread and bend the curve! 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 administer the vaccines. To prevent 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) 4 • 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 Vaccination appointments are now available at neighborhood Duane Reade, Walgreens and RiteAid pharmacies. The Ford Foundation Community Health Center/Clinic on 42nd Street is also showing up on the VaccineFinder map. You can tap on locations shown on the map to make an appointment. Pharmacies are following the CDC eligibility requirements and targeting people 65+. Walgreens is also posting vaccination appointments on their website walgreens.com; you will need to create an account on their website, if you don't have one. The vaccinefinder.nyc.gov/locations map is now showing many more locations near Murray Hill. Related: 268 NYC Pharmacies Will Give Out Coronavirus Vaccine Shots February 11, 2021, patch.com, by Matt Troutman A federal program is primed to deliver 26,500 doses of COVID-19 vaccine directly to Walgreens, Duane Reade, Costco and Rite Aid pharmacies every week. If you wish to be vaccinated at pharmacies, set up an account on their websites, and request alerts. Walgreens and CVS participate in the Federal vaccination program. NYU Langone is now offering vaccinations for the general public. If you have a relationship with them, log into the patient portal. Their telephone number is 646-987-3545. New Yorkers who want the vaccine and cannot register online can register by phone at 1-833-697-4829 or 1- 877-829-4692 or via websites created by the state, the city or the city’s public health system. IMPORTANT WARNING FOR organizations and businesses that have supplies of vaccinations—take precautions against theft! See the MHNA website page Vaccinations for useful links and phone numbers on how to determine your eligibility and schedule an appointment. If you are interested in scheduling a vaccination at the Javits Center (429 11th Avenue in Manhattan), you can do so by calling 1-833-697-4829 or at apps3.health.ny.gov/doh2/applinks/cdmspr/2/counties?OpID=50502320. This site tells you immediately if appointments are available. 5 2/4/2021 If you are a Veteran, 65+, and currently enrolled in VA Healthcare, the Manhattan VA Medical Center is administering vaccines. Eligible Veterans must schedule an appointment by calling 1-877-877-9267. Learn more at NYC’s COVID-19 Vaccine Hubs vaccinepod.nyc.gov. You can sign up for 2 weeks of email notifications when new appointments are added. NYS vaccination distribution plan covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov/phased-distribution-vaccine.