Borough President Update – 6/3/21

VACCINATION INFORMATION

·         The New York Aquarium will be a NYC COVID-19 Vaccination Site through Wednesday, June 30th. The vaccination center will be located in a section of the Aquarium’s West Parking Lot and be open from daily (except weekends and holidays)from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

·         NYC Youth Vax Week mobile vaccine buses will be stationed in the following locations in Brooklyn:

·         Coney Island, 1310 Surf Avenue (June 5th and June 6th, 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM)

·         Marcy Plaza (across Restoration Plaza), Marcy Avenue and Fulton Street (June 3rd and June 4th, 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM)

·         Brooklyn Museum, 150 Eastern Parkway (June 2nd through June 4th, 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM)

·         Herbert Von King Park, Street Parking by 670 Lafayette Avenue (June 3rd through June 6th 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM)

·         Red Hook Park, Corner of Bay Street and Columbia Street, (June 3rd through June 5th; 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM)

·         Grand Army Plaza, Pedestrian Plaza at Grand Army Plaza entrance to Prospect Plaza, (June 6th; 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM)

·         In-home vaccination has been expanded to include:

·         Anyone aged 75+

·         New Yorkers of all ages with disabilities

·         Caregivers and other members of the household can also get vaccinated during the home visit

·         The vaccine administered is Johnson & Johnson

·         To sign up: http://nyc.gov/homebound or 877-VAX4NYC

·         Get vaccinated and you’ll have a chance to win $5 million. Check out the details here.

·         If you get vaccinated at NYC Vaccination sites, you may be eligible for these incentives.

·         Anyone 12+ years of age is now eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

·         Currently, all City mass vaccination sites and State-run vaccination sites are open for walk-ins for New Yorkers aged 12 and older. Children aged 12-15 require consent from a parent or guardian.

·         Eligible New Yorkers can also sign up at nyc.gov/vax4nyc.

·         Walgreens vaccine appointments are also viewable on vaccinefinder.nyc.gov

·         You can schedule transportation to your vaccine appointment if you are 65 or older and:

·         Cannot use public transportation

·         Cannot use private transportation, and

·         Cannot rely on friends or family members for transport

·         You must already have a vaccine appointment before scheduling transportation. However, you do not need an appointment for sites listed in the “Walk-Up Appointments for Seniors 75 or Older” section above, if you are a senior aged 75 or older.

·         Access-a-Ride

·         If you already use Access-a-Ride, you can schedule transportation to your appointment as you normally would.

·         Phone Number: (718) 393-4999

·         Business Hours: Daily: 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM

·         Staff is available through the automated phone system during business hours. Automated assistance is also available in Spanish. If you get a busy signal, call (877) 337-2017.

·         Medicaid

·         If you have Medicaid-provided transportation, you can use your usual contact number to schedule transport. You can also call Medicaid Transportation Management.

·         Phone Number: (844) 666-6270

·         Business Hours: 24 hours, 7 days a week

·         Hunter Ambulettes

·         If you need an ambulette, you can schedule free transport with Hunter ambulettes.

·         Phone Number: (516) 812-9827

·         Business Hours: Daily: 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM

·         Curb

·         If you are 65 or older and meet all of the criteria, but do not qualify for the programs above, you can schedule a free ride with Curb.

·         When scheduling your appointment, you must indicate that you are getting a vaccine. Curb will confirm that your destination is a valid vaccination site, and your ride will be scheduled for free.

·         Phone Number: (646) 349-0289

·         Business Hours: 24 hours, 7 days a week

HEALTH

·         The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines indicate that fully-vaccinated individuals do not need to wear a mask indoors.  The CDC also no longer recommends that fully-vaccinated people wear a mask outdoors while in a crowd. However, New Yorkers are urged to consider the following when selecting a face covering:

·         Use a face covering with two or three layers of material to better prevent unfiltered air from passing through. A cloth face covering over a disposable mask is also recommended. However, people should not use two disposable masks.

·         Use face coverings made of tightly woven fabric (fabrics that do not let light pass through when held up to a light source). Face coverings should be made of breathable fabric (like cotton), and not of leather, plastic, or other materials that make it hard to breathe.

·         Do not use a face covering with an exhalation valve as it allows unfiltered exhaled air to escape.

·         Make sure the face covering fits snugly against the sides of the face and fully cover both the nose and mouth, without slipping. Face coverings that fit loosely allow respiratory droplets to enter and leak out. Here are some tips to help ensure a snug fit:

·         Wear a cloth face covering over a disposable mask

·         Wear a face covering with a nose wire

·         Wear a face mask fitter or brace

·         Knot the ear loops and fold or tuck extra material

·         For New Yorkers at greater risk, the guidance recommends two masks or even considering higher-grade masks, such as a KN95 mask, which is similar in design and function to N95 masks used by health care workers. This includes those who are:

·         65 or older

·         have an underlying medical condition that increases the risk of severe COVID-19

·         people who care for someone who is sick

·         people who are in prolonged close contact with non-household members while indoors (such as people who regularly work in-person with the members of the public)

·         N95 respirators should only be used in health care settings

·         People should also wear face coverings at home if:

·         They live with others who are sick, recently tested positive for COVID-19, or were recently exposed to someone with COVID-19 (unless alone in a separate room). In these instances, face coverings should also be worn around pets

·         If someone who does not live in the household is in the home, face coverings should be worn

·         COVID-19 testing has been made available to all New Yorkers. COVID-19 testing sites are available in your area with new ones being added on an ongoing basis. To find the one nearest you, visit the state website [New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) website], the City’s website [New York City’s COVID-19 Information Portal], or type “COVID testing near me” in Google Maps.

·         Crisis Text Line has support resources and counselors available for free 24/7 for frontline and essential workers. Text NYFRONTLINE to 741-741 to be connected, or visit www.crisistextline.org.

·         An emergency financial relief program is available for survivors of domestic and gender-based violence to provide funding for immediate safety, economic, and housing needs currently exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Helpful resources that are currently available include the agency website, the “NYC HOPE” resource directory, and the Resources for Survivors During COVID-19 page.

·         Worried about having to self-isolate in a dangerous home situation? Co-quarantined with an abuser? Please reach out and contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline. Call 1 (800) 799-7233, TTY 1 (800) 787-3224, or chat online at thehotline.org.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT

·         Businesses and non-profits connected to live performances may apply to get up to $10 million each from the Federal government under the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant. For more information, click here.

·         FEMA is providing “COVID-19 Funeral Assistance.” For more information, click here.

·         The “Fair Share NYC” campaign is also offering free resources to help small business owners apply for federal relief funds including the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL).

·         New York State is offering an additional 20 weeks of unemployment benefits. Visit dol.ny.gov to see if you qualify.

·         The SBS has published plain language industry guides as a tool for small businesses to adhere to the latest mandatory COVID-19 related guidance and to share best practices. Visit nyc.gov/business for more information on the guides.

·         The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce has launched the Bring Back Brooklyn Fund to support small businesses that have been shut out of other COVID-19-related loan programs, with 65 percent earmarked for minority and/or women-owned business enterprises (MWBE). The Bring Back Brooklyn Fund offers no-interest recovery loans between $500 and $30,000. You can contribute to the effort here.

·         The New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG) launched the NY COVID-19 Legal Resource Hotline to help New York City residents impacted by COVID-19 get answers to their legal questions on issues including unemployment benefits, employee rights, housing, public benefits, consumer debt, advance planning, stimulus payments, and special education issues. Call (929) 356-9582 Monday-Friday 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM to leave a message with your name and contact information or visit nylag.org/hotline for more information.

FOOD PANTRY/FOOD ASSISTANCE

·         All students who would have received a free or reduced-price meal at school are now eligible for additional food assistance through Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer (P-EBT). This includes undocumented students, students whose private schools participate in the National School Lunch Program, and students in districts that implement the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). New York City families will receive an additional $5.70 for every day school has been closed to purchase foods available through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

·         For grab-and-go meals at school sites: All families and students can continue to go to any school building Monday through Friday between 9:00 AM and 12:00 PM to pick up free grab-and-go meals. No identification or registration is necessary.

·         Members of the community can pick up meals from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday at locations across the city

·         Meals are not available to the general public at any other time

·         No registration or ID required

·         Multiple meals can be picked up at once

·         Vegetarian meals are available at all locations

·         Go to schools.nyc.gov, or text “FOOD” or “COMIDA” to 877-877 for lists of where meals are being served

HOUSING

·         New York State has extended the ban on most COVID-19 related evictions through August.

·         For New Yorkers requiring quarantine or isolation, NYC Health + Hospitals is offering free hotel rooms for up to 14 days if there is a need for a place to isolate. Call (844) NYC-4NYC (844-692-4692) and press “0”.

GENERAL

·         Senior Centers are scheduled to reopen on Monday, June 14th.

·         The Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME) is partnering with The Actors Fund to assist members of the performing arts and film/TV community who are either working, living, or attending school in New York City in scheduling COVID-19 vaccine appointments at The ATC Broadway Vaccination Site (ATC Vaccination Times Square, located at 47th Street and Seventh Avenue).  To schedule an appointment, please call (917) 281-5937 or email vaccines@actorsfund.org with your name and phone number to speak with someone who can help you.

·         Governor Cuomo announced updated COVID-19 quarantine periods in New York. Guidelines can be found here.

·         Free and low-cost childcare options during the COVID-19 crisis are available through Workers Need Childcare, for parents and caregivers in New York City’s essential workforce.

For City alerts in English, text COVID to 692-692.

For City alerts in Spanish, text COVIDESP to 692-692.

For City alerts in other languages, click here.