Today at City Hall, Mayor de Blasio announced new ways the city is helping to address health disparities in New York’s hardest-hit communities fight COVID-19:
· Expansion of testing sites to reach essential workers and other vulnerable populations, including seniors and people in lower-income neighborhoods
· NYC COVID-19 Immigrant Emergency Relief program ($20 million partnership with Open Society)
· Increased Capacity at 311
See below for more information and additional COVID-19 response updates from the city.
Please take a few minutes to share the announcements and resources below and reach out with any questions or concerns.
Here’s what’s below:
· Share Announcements and Resources
· Community Testing Sites/Testing Updates
· Event Cancellations
· Increased Capacity at 311
· Tracking Progress
· Thank Yous – New Donations
· Additional Resources
SHARE ANNOUNCEMENTS AND RESOURCES
· April 17 Message from the Mayor: We need a rent freeze for millions of New Yorkers — but we can’t stop there. It’s time for New York State to take bold action to protect tenants
o Ask your question using the hashtagh #AskMyMayor
· Announcement: Today, Mayor de Blasio announced an expansion of testing for essential workers in the hardest-hit communities.
o Call 1-888-ONEMED1 OR go to onemedical.com and use code NYCCARE30
o Spread the Word with this sample tweet:
.@NYCMayor announces an expansion of coronavirus testing within low income communities of color. We have to do EVERYTHING we can to combat the inequalities COVID-19 brings to light and this is how you do that. Go to https://www.onemedical.com/coronavirus/ and use code NYCCARE30
· Announcement: Commissioner Bitta Mostofi and Mayor de Blasio Announced a COVID-19 Immigrant Emergency Relief Program with Open Society
o Read the Statement https://twitter.com/NYCImmigrants/status/1250903905925562369?s=20
o Spread the word with this sample tweet:
The NYC COVID-19 Immigrant Emergency Relief program ensures all New Yorkers, regardless of immigration status, are included in our relief efforts. $20 million through NYC’s partnership with @OpenSociety will directly support our neighbors largely excluded from federal programs.
· 311 is experiencing high call volume.
o We want to make sure the highest priority calls are answered as quickly as possible. If you are not calling to be connected to a COVID-19 related resource, or with an urgent request, please submit a service request online by visiting NYC.gov/311 or by using the 311 app. If you cannot submit a request online, please call after 7PM or during weekend hours for non-urgent/non-COVID-19 matters. Thank you for your cooperation and patience as we work to continue to provide quality service for all New Yorkers
· 11,000 hotel rooms to help New Yorkers Quarantine
o If you’re a healthcare worker and need a hotel nyc.gov/covid19hotel
o Spread the word:
§ Share this sample tweet:
@NYCMayor said we’re working on securing free hotel rooms for New Yorkers in high-risk communities who need to quarantine. Referrals through @NYCHealthSystem & community health providers to begin 4/22. We stand up for our most vulnerable residents and healthcare worker
· We need help from Washington
o Spread the word:
§ Share this sample tweet:
There’s no national recovery without our cities. I join @NYCMayor in calling for the federal government to do its part. We support the Pelosi/Schumer proposals and support getting our cities back to work!
· News: New York State on PAUSE is extended through 5/15. Non-essential workforce is directed to continue to work from home until at least 5/15.
· Immigrant-owned shops like Buunni Coffee are the cornerstones of NYC. It’s vital to support our businesses at this time.
· Get Counted – Fill out the Census:
o This Immigrant Heritage Week, we’re paying homage to everything our vibrant immigrant communities contribute to our city! A complete #2020Census count means more services for our communities. There is NO citizenship question!
o #GetCountedNYC at http://my2020census.gov #IHW2020
o Share the message: https://twitter.com/NYCImmigrants/status/1250851017111097348?s=20
· We are faced with an unprecedented crisis in New York City, but we will spare no expense when it comes to the health, safety, food and housing our residents depend on. Here’s a look at the
o Read our Executive Budget: http://on.nyc.gov/executivebudget
· Everyone’s been staying home and doing their part, and right now we have to keep doing it.
o Listen to Remy Ma — the safety of your neighbors relies on you.
· We’ve released a Work from Home Toolkit to help New Yorkers make the most of working from home.
o Check it out https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/cto/#/toolkit/working-from-home
o Spread the word: https://twitter.com/NYC_CTO/status/1251138741906915329
· We must support our Asian American community, protect them and call out hatred and discrimination in all its forms.
o Go to http://nyc.gov/stopcovidhate
o Watch and share the message with NYC’s First Lady Chirlane McCray: https://twitter.com/NYCFirstLady/status/1251130588335157255?s=20
· We’re starting a $170 million initiative to make sure NO New Yorker goes hungry.
o We’re also investing $50 million into an emergency food reserve so we can purchase and store 18 million shelf stable meals.
o We expect to provide 10 million free meals to New Yorkers in April alone. And for seniors and vulnerable New Yorkers, we’re delivering to their door.
o More than 11,000 taxi and for-hire drivers have signed up to deliver free meals for the
o Read the plan now: http://nyc.gov/feedingnyc
o If you need food, go to http://nyc.gov/getfood or call 311.
o Spread the word to everyone you know that your city is here to help: https://twitter.com/NYCMayor/status/1250495397212172288
COMMUNITY TESTING SITES/TESTING UPDATES
New Community Testing Sites Serving At-Risk Patients
● 2,400 tests per week initially, and growing
● Focus on residents from surrounding communities
● 65 and older with preexisting conditions
● Call 311 for more information on community testing
Opening Today
● Brooklyn: H+H Gotham Health, East New York
● Bronx: H+H Gotham Health, Morrisania
● Staten Island: Vanderbilt Health Center, Clifton
Opening Monday
● Manhattan: Sydenham Family Health Center, Harlem
● Queens: H+H Queens Hospital, Jamaica
Announcing Partnership with One Medical
● 5 new testing sites, one in every borough
● 3,500 tests per week
● All 5 sites open by Monday — Brooklyn and Queens sites open TODAY
Who is Eligible for Testing?
● NYC residents who are 65 and older with preexisting conditions
● Frontline 1199SEIU workers
● Essential workers and other vulnerable populations, including adult care employees or those who work with people with disabilities
● By appointment only: Call 1-888-ONEMED1 OR go to onemedical.com and use code NYCCARE30
EVENT CANCELLATONS
● Canceled: All Non-Essential City Permitted Events in May
● Parades, concerts, rallies, large gatherings
● Essential permits NOT affected:
○ Medical sites
○ Hygiene stations
○ Food provision: farmer’s markets and meal delivery
● Discussing Potential Cancellation of June Events with Organizers and Communities
INCREASING CAPACITY AT 3-1-1
· Calls have increased from an average of 55,000 per day to up to 200,000 per day
· Prioritizing COVID-19 Response
o Immediate response & sign-up for all GetFood calls
o New ability to receive photos of social distancing complaints through texting 311-692 or the 311 app
o Hiring 120 additional call center staff
o Ask New Yorkers to hold non-COVID-19 calls to after 7pm and weekends, or use the 311 app or website
TRACKING PROGRESS
Our 3 indicators
People admitted to hospitals for suspected COVID-19
● 329 down (386 as of April 14)
People currently in H+H ICUs for suspected COVID-19
● 874 down (887 as of April 14)
Percentage of people tested who are positive for COVID-19
● Citywide: 46% down (55% as of April 14)
● Public Health Lab: 82% up (78% as of April 14)
Data for Wednesday April 15. Published at nyc.gov/coronavirus
THANK YOUs
Open Society Foundations: $35 million to NYC
● $20 million to create the Immigrant Emergency Relief Fund within The Mayor’s Fund
■ Provide funding to CBOs for immigrant and undocumented New Yorkers not eligible for federal stimulus
● 15 million to the Fund for Public Schools
■ Remote learning resources for parents, students and teachers
■ Additional support for the children of essential workers through CBOs and family care providers
Delta and Southwest Airlines
· Free flights for healthcare workers joining the fight in NYC
Harry’s
· $500,000 of goods (razors and lotions) to all 11 NYC H+H hospital
Target
· $50,000 to the Fund for Public Health in NYC’s Epidemics Fund
Peloton
· 90,000 N95 Masks
Americares
· 300,000 KN95 Masks
inMotion Entertainment
· 6,400 in-ear headphones for remote learning — students living in temporary housing
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
· DOE Graphics Library
o A collection of graphics on the DOE’s recent announcements that can be shared with families and educators, in all 9 DOE languages.
· Remote Learning:
o You can request to have an internet-enabled device delivered to your home
o Fill out a device request form at coronavirus.schools.nyc/RemoteLearningDevices or call 311 for support
o For more information about remote learning, activities for students, and technical support go to schools.nyc.gov/LearnAtHome
· Free meals are available to every New Yorker at over 400 locations
o text ‘NYC FOOD’ or ‘NYC COMIDA’ to 877-877 for more.
o Learn more: http://schools.nyc.gov/freemeals
o View the full Twitter thread for translations in multiple languages: https://twitter.com/NYCImmigrants/status/1246096131680956417?s=20
· Skip the Trip to Access HRA:
To help stop the spread of COVID-19, many HRA locations are consolidating until further notice. We are asking New Yorkers to do everything they can through #AccessHRA or by calling 311.
o Spread the Word: https://twitter.com/NYCDHS/status/1244720107365990401
· Volunteer, donate or partner with NYC: nyc.gov/helpnow
· Centralized COVID-19 page for resources:
o Nyc.gov/coronavirus
· Assistance for Organizations
o Including healthcare facilities, small businesses, non-profits and more
o Small Business Loan info: https://access.nyc.gov/sba-loan-announcement/
· Services for Domestic and Gender-Based Violence Survivors
o You are not alone. We understand home is not always safe.
o For services visit nyc.gov/nychope
o Call NYC’s 24-hour hotline at 1800-621-4673 or call 911 for emergencies