April 22, 2020
Dear Community,
As we mark the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day amid the COVID-19 pandemic, we have a powerful opportunity to reimagine what our society and economy can look like. We have the chance to rebuild so that our communities are greener, our air is cleaner, our economy is more sustainable, and ultimately, our state is more just. The health of our communities depends on the health of our planet. I hope you take time to enjoy our beautiful environment today and commit to making your daily life greener.
Today, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced new details about the testing and tracing program New York State will launch to help stem the spread of COVID-19. Former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg and Bloomberg Philanthropies will provide organizational and technical support to help get the tracing program up and running. Once operational, this program will allow New York State to trace each person who tests positive with COVID, determine who they had close contact with, and isolate those individuals to prevent them from spreading the virus further. Several countries, including South Korea, Germany, and Singapore have effectively used similar contact tracing strategies to contain their outbreaks and begin to reopen their economies.
New York State will work with New Jersey and Connecticut to implement this program, and coordinate closely among down-state counties. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio also announced details about New York City’s efforts to build testing and tracing capacity. New York City plans to hire contact tracers and build the infrastructure needed to trace the contacts of individuals who test positive and provide those individuals with a hotel room to isolate, medical support, and meals.
New York City is also taking additional steps to tackle the spread of COVID-19 in public housing and provide additional support to residents. The city is opening six additional testing sites for NYCHA residents, including one at Belvis Health Center in Mott Haven, and will distribute face coverings and gloves for all NYCHA tenants. The city will also provide additional services to seniors in NYCHA buildings, including distributing hand sanitizer, enrolling all NYCHA senior buildings in the city’s meal delivery program, and conducting wellness check phone calls. Additionally, the city is making a $5 million investment to provide tablets with internet service to seniors to help them connect with loved ones and combat isolation.
Governor Cuomo also announced that the Department of Financial Services will direct health insurers to provide cash flow relief and reduce administrative burdens for hospitals, to help hospitals facing financial challenges as a result of COVID-19.
Upcoming Events with Team Biaggi:
- Town Hall with NYC Comptroller: Tomorrow, Thursday, April 23rd at 7:00pm, I am hosting a virtual town hall with New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer. We will be talking about how our offices are responding to COVID-19, what resources are available, and how we can better support our community. RSVP here or by calling 212-669-4315.
- Town Hall with Bronx Council on the Arts, and AM Fernandez: On Friday, April 24th, 2020 at 6:30pm, join my office for an open conversation and resource-sharing webinar hosted by myself, Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernandez, and the Bronx Council on the Arts. Submit questions and reserve your spot here.
Update for NYC Public School Families: As a reminder, the New York City Department of Education is continuing to distribute internet-enabled iPads to students who need a device to access remote learning. In order to receive a device by Thursday, April 30, families must request a device by 5pm, Thursday, April 23rd. You can request a device by calling DOE at 718-935-5100 and choosing option 5 on the menu or by filling out this form.
Update for State Employees: New York State is waiving the 15 day waiting period for public employees to access retirement benefits. This will allow family members who are designated as beneficiaries to receive benefits if a loved one passes away before their retirement becomes official. You can learn more here.
Community Resources:
- NYC Taxi is hiring delivery workers to help distribute food. Learn more and apply here.
- For Survivors: The MeToo Movement has released a COVID-19 toolkit for survivors of sexual assault. This toolkit includes resources for survivors and means for helping other survivors through this difficult time.
- Ramadan Meals: Individuals and organizations in need of Ramadan Iftar meal deliveries can call 718-822-5555 or visit http://halalfinder.com/.
- NYCHA FAQ: NYCHA has put together an updated FAQ for residents, read more here.
Ways to Lend a Helping Hand:
- Support Your Fellow Bronxites: The Bronx Community Relief Fund was created to support on-the-ground operations that focus on meeting the most essential needs of the Bronx community. To learn how to help out, click here.
- Give Blood, Save Lives: The NY Blood Center needs your help if you tested positive and have recovered from COVID-19. Click here to schedule an appointment and donate today.
- Support Local Businesses: To learn more about how to support your local businesses click on the links below.
- Mount Vernon Chamber of Commerce
- Pelham List and Pelham Cares
- Bronx Chamber of Commerce
- City Island Chamber of Commerce
- To see how you can get involved for New York State, click here.
- For how to help in New York City, click here.
As of today, April 22nd, 2020, nationwide there are 802,583 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 44,575 deaths. Worldwide there are 2,622,273 cases and 182,943 reported deaths.
In New York State, as of April 22nd, there were 257,216 confirmed cases. To date, New York has conducted 669,982 tests statewide.
As of April 22nd we have lost 15,302 New Yorkers to the virus.
Of the confirmed cases:
- 142,432 are located in New York City
- 31,555 are located in Nassau County
- 28,854 are located in Suffolk County
- 25,276 are located in Westchester County
- 9,699 are located in Rockland County
You can find the geographic breakdown of coronavirus cases by County here.
As of April 22nd, the Westchester County breakdown is as follows:
- 111 are located in the Village of Pelham
- 77 are located in the Village of Pelham Manor
- 1,779 are located in Mount Vernon
As of April 22nd, the New York City borough breakdown is as follows:
- 31,130 in The Bronx
- 42,637 in Queens
- 36,699 in Brooklyn
- 17,495 in Manhattan
● 10,405 on Staten Island
You can find more information and data breakdowns here.
This is an evolving situation. For updated information on COVID-19 (in multiple languages) from trusted sources for your designated area, please visit: Center for Disease Control and Prevention, New York State Department of Health, Westchester County Department of Health, or the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
You can also call the New York State Novel Coronavirus Hotline at 1-888-364-3065 or the New York City Hotline at 1-844-NYC-4NYC with any questions.
While you are at home, don’t forget to fill out the Census! Let’s make our communities count! The self-response deadline has been extended until October. For more information, and to complete the census, you can click here.
If you were forwarded this email, you can subscribe to our newsletter here.
Stay strong.
With Gratitude,
State Senator Alessandra Biaggi
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