An unnamed female committee chair on Bronx Community Board 7 has tested positive for COVID-19 and is currently in quarantine. The news was confirmed during a virtual board meeting on March 24. One meeting participant requested confirmation of whether all people who had been in recent contact with the affected board member had been notified. The question was noted for follow-up action by the board.

 

With all Community Board 7 voting currently on hold, the primary purpose of the virtual meeting was to inform those in attendance about the various federal, state, city and community responses to the unfolding coronavirus pandemic, as the City grapples with an ever-rising surge of positive cases. The latest citywide number of COVD-19 cases was 38,087 as of March 31 at 6 p.m, with Bronx cases making up 6,925. As of this date, the City had lost 914 New Yorkers, while the statewide total number of confirmed cases stood at 75,795. 

 

A number of local public representatives attended the call, urging people to stay home, to be mindful of the vulnerable and immunocompromised, and to remember that the current restrictions are not just about individuals but about protecting the whole community. Assembly Member Nathalia Fernandez was one of many call participants, and her office provided detailed information in a follow-up newsletter, some of which is including here. “We continue to urge New Yorkers not to panic,” her statement read. “While the disease could be life-threatening, 80 percent of cases self-resolve and don’t require hospitalizations. We’re here to help.”

 

Board Chair Emmanuel Martinez said as he opened the call, “New York City is now the hotbed for the virus.” Explaining that the eyes of all fellow Americans were upon the City to see how it would respond to the crisis, he added, “We’re now setting the stage for the rest of the country”. Acknowledging that prevailing social distancing restrictions would mean the community would have to resort to different means of communication, at least in the short to medium-term, Martinez urged all call attendees to stay focused and to follow official City and State guidelines in respect of preventative measures.  

 

District Manager Ischia Bravo reminded everyone to stay connected with local public representatives, to refer to official City and State sources for the latest updates, and to avoid getting side-tracked with any misleading information about the virus that may be circulating on social media.

 

COVID-19 Testing 

Bravo confirmed that following the physical closure of Lehman College for academic purposes, it is now operating from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. as a drive-through testing center for COVID-19, and reminded people not to walk to the center but to drive through only. To make an appointment to get tested, she said members of the public must first be referred by and have a letter from their primary care physician. The number to call to make an appointment is 88 8364 3065. Bravo urged people to refrain from showing up at centers without an appointment, and said that a newsletter would be sent out in the coming week with further pertinent public information.

 

More testing is available in the Co-op City area. The drive-thru testing center is located in the Bay Plaza Mall, in the parking lot of the AMC movie theatre and is open from 8:00 am-9:00 pm. Please call in advance on 1-888-364-3065. Drive-thru testing is also available at Jacobi Hospital. To schedule an appointment please call 311. It was confirmed during the meeting that testing centers are not just for Bronx residents, since all test monitoring is being centralized by the State Department of Health. Anyone requiring a test is simply directed to the nearest available center.

 

Social Distancing 

The Park’s committee chair, Barbara Stronczer, confirmed that the city’s parks remain open, but residents were reminded that no team sports are currently allowed, and everyone must maintain a distance of six feet from each other. The board advised that the Mayor was still considering whether to close playgrounds or not since people are not practicing social distancing, though violations are low. It was agreed that this is a painful measure, especially for families with small children but may be necessary to stop people from gathering in groups. Violators of social distancing requirements will be fined between $250-$500 per violation. The new penalties are needed to stop the spread of the virus. Click HERE for more details. [This article has been updated to reflect that on April 2, NYC Parks’ department announced the closure of all public playgrounds, sports courts and public restrooms until further notice.]

Betty Arce from the Sanitation committee confirmed that organic recycling continues to be offered by the City, though participant progress is slow. Residents were reminded to be mindful of, and grateful to, the City’s front-line Parks’ and Sanitation workers who continue to work throughout the crisis. They were also encouraged to refrain from littering and to keep the neighborhood clean, especially right now. 

 

Seniors

Seniors are one of the most vulnerable groups when it comes to the virus and should stay at home or limit the amount of time they spend in public. For those who have seniors in their life, they should take every precaution in terms of maintaining social distancing and washing hands. 

Any residents in need of help getting food can contact Meals on Wheels at https://www.citymeals.org/get-meals.

The New York City Department for the Aging can also be contacted directly on 212-244-6469 for assistance.  It was confirmed that Bronx House will be closed for the foreseeable future due to the ongoing health concern.

Department of the Aging (DFTA) 

• The direct delivered meal system that began last week as a pilot will expand to serve all clients in all five boroughs starting today, Monday March 30, 2020. 
• DFTA’s congregate meals clients will receive direct delivery, which includes a five-meal package delivered to each older adult every week. DFTA has contracted with several vendors to deliver to these senior center participants directly. Because of this, Grab-and-Go meals will no longer be offered. 
• The most direct path to accessing direct delivery meals is by connecting directly with local senior centers. Residents can also call 311 or DFTA’s Aging Connect at 212-AGING-NYC (212-244-6469). 
• Senior centers that have existing frozen or shelf-stable food in stock will continue to deliver directly to the homes of their members. Senior centers will cease this service upon depletion of current stock and participate in the centralized meal delivery service. 
• Homebound older adults already receiving home-delivered meals through DFTA’s case management agencies will continue as usual. Those interested in signing up can call DFTA’s Aging Connect at 212-AGING-NYC (212-244-6469) or calling 311 to see if they are eligible for home-delivered services.

For information about additional programs and resources, please visit NYC Emergency Management.

Price Gouging 

Bronxites were warned about price gouging by stores and supermarkets. Price gouging is illegal. New Yorkers can now report sudden and unexpected increases in consumer goods such as hand sanitizer, cleaning supplies, or other health and sanitation-related products by calling the consumer hotline toll free at 800-697-1220. This line is available seven days a week from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. for consumers.

Residents can also file an online complaint with the Department of State Consumer Protection Division here. Alberto Roldan from the Department of Consumer Affairs highlighted that stores are prohibited from charging more than 10 percent of what they were charging for products before the crisis. 

He also confirmed that the Attorney General’s office is tracking food overpricing incidents and noted that small businesses are sometimes unaware of their rights in this regard. Businesses can increase prices but they have to be comparable with what they themselves are being charged by suppliers. If there are any suppliers who are squeezing small businesses, this should be reported. New Yorkers can file a complaint here with the NY Attorney General’s Office. Roldan can be reached at ARoldan@dca.nyc.gov or on (212) 436-0396.

Schools on Pause

Governor Cuomo announced that schools statewide will remain closed for an additional 2 weeks until April 15. Families with students in neighboring cities should consult their respective departments of education for details on school closures.  New York City schools continue to remain closed until April 20.

Elementary and intermediate-level state assessments have been suspended for the remainder of this school year. Read more HERE.

The Department of Education has established Regional Enrichment Centers for the students of our essential workers. These students can be cared for while their parents continue to serve the city in this time of need. Read more about it HERE.

For parents struggling to manage their kids at home, NYPL is offering assistance with home-schooling of kids and teens via the following link.

 

Food and Childcare 

Local schools are continuing to serve three take-out meals a day to students during the crisis – breakfast, lunch and dinner – between 7:30 am to 1:30 pm. Visit the department of education website to find a location. Four public buildings in the local area are open to cater for childcare needs, though it was noted that some may close if they are not being fully utilized. Bravo confirmed that she will send out a list of those offering both food and childcare assistance via the newsletter. 

People are encouraged to wear gloves while shopping, to eliminate elbow bumps, to maintain six feet of social distancing from one another, to offer to buy groceries for elderly neighbors but to avoid contact with them and to drop off the groceries outside their doors, phoning them to let them know once they have been delivered.

 

Health & Hospitals  

Chad Royer from the Health Committee confirmed that no immediate committee business could be done right now but that the public may have some questions which he will endeavor to respond to as quickly as possible. Reference was made to state-wide emergency paid sick leave since workers, including undocumented workers, are subject to mandatory quarantine. Notifications in this regard would be sent out via email. Cristina Contreras, board member and executive director of North Central Hospital said that so far the hospital is trying to follow the issued guidelines by keeping people away from the hospital to prevent further possible contamination, and that they are dealing with inquiries from the public mostly via tele-calls.

Some people highlighted that thermometers seemed to be in short supply, making it difficult to track symptoms and that, on average, stores were advising of a month delay in terms of delivery of more stock. One participant confirmed that there was a pharmacy on Washington Avenue in Community Board 6 that is fully stocked. Another person suggested to shop in the infant section of Target, where thermometers are usually in stock.

Mayor de Blasio will issue 10,000 parking placards to emergency health care workers during the coronavirus crisis. Learn more about it HERE.

 

Workforce still on Pause

Governor Cuomo has extended a statewide stay at home order until April 15. All workers considered to be non-essential personnel are required to work from home. Please click HERE to check if your job is considered essential.

Governor Cuomo has announced a freeze on most residential and building construction considered non-essential across the state after massive outcry due to the pandemic. Read more about it HERE.

One Fair Wage has launched the One Fair Wage Emergency Fund to provide cash assistance to low-wage service workers.

Financial Relief  

• State debt collection on student debt and medical debt will have payments frozen for at least 30 days. Read more HERE.
• New 90-day mortgage relief period and foreclosures are suspended or postponed for those facing financial hardship because of COVID-19. Read more HERE.
• There is now a 90-day moratorium on commercial and residential evictions.
• New state law allows for sick leave and benefits to quarantined/isolated workers. Read more HERE.
• It also eliminates the one-week waiting period for UI claims arising out of workplace closures due to COVID-19.
• The deadline for filing your taxes has been moved from April 15 to July 15.
• NY State of Health is offering a special open enrollment through April 15. Read more HERE.
• Alternate Side Parking Restrictions will be suspended through Tuesday, April 14. Read more HERE.

Human Resources Administration

The Human Resources Administration, SNAP, and Medicaid locations have been consolidated as of 12pm Tuesday, March 24. They are beginning to accept Cash Assistance (CA) applications online as of Friday, March 20. The interview portion of the CA application process is being conducted by telephone.

They are advising New Yorkers to apply for public benefits online at ACCESS HRA in order to prevent unnecessary visits to an HRA center. For clients who cannot or do not want to apply online, a list of Job, SNAP, and Medicaid center locations that will remain open can be found here: Job, SNAP, Medicaid.

Small Business Relief 

The Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation has established and emergency loan fund. Small Businesses in the Bronx are now eligible for up to $100,000 in loans to stay afloat during the Coronavirus outbreak. To apply, please contact mcintron@boedc.org at the BOECD.

Relief Grant Scams 

Residents and business owners are advised to disregard fake relief grant scams in circulation and to be extra careful when talking with anyone offering financial assistance. More information about how to protect yourself and your business against scammers is available HERE.  

The Federal CARES Act 2020 

• Financial Assistance is now available for those covered by unemployment benefits and those who do not qualify for unemployment through the Federal CARES Act. The new law provides enhanced unemployment benefits and pandemic unemployment benefits for those without traditional employment.
• Pandemic Unemployment benefits for workers who do not qualify for regular unemployment benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes people who are self-employed, contractors and those with limited work histories. For information about qualifications, please click HERE.
• If you are covered by unemployment insurance and have exhausted your 26 weeks of benefits, you are eligible for an additional 13 weeks of coverage as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Benefits will include an additional $600 a month until July 31. For more information please click HERE.
• To apply for either unemployment or Pandemic Unemployment benefits, please visit the Department of Labor website. https://applications.labor.ny.gov/IndividualReg/

Read more about the federal response to the COVID-19 pandemic HERE.

 

Crime & Domestic Violence 

In terms of crime prevention, residents were warned to stay vigilant, avoid any fake guidance regarding the pandemic and to follow the shelter-in-place rules. Rumors have circulated about people showing up on people’s doorsteps offering tests. Do not open the door to anyone posing as a tester.

It was acknowledged that domestic violence rates may rise during the crisis while many people are cooped up inside their homes. The public were advised not to hesitate to reach out for assistance if they feel they are in any danger and that help will be provided. The Violence Intervention Program (VIP) has made it clear that they are fully operational during the crisis and continue to provide crisis counseling and emergency sheltering services to New York City’s victims of domestic violence. If you are in need of assistance call their hotline on 1-800-664-5880 or visit their website  https://www.vipmujeres.org/.

Some other numbers to call in such an emergency in the Bronx are the Violence Intervention Program 800-664-5880 or Sanctuary for Families on 212-349-6009. For immediate assistance, the NYPD are also available.

 

Civil Rights 

Orlando Torres (ortorres@cchr.nyc.gov) is the new director of the Bronx office of the City’s Human Rights Commission and said he hoped everyone was safe and staying home. He encouraged everyone to be vigilant of any discrimination taking place especially during this stressful period, whether it’s at work or when it comes to housing. He reminded everyone that life goes on despite the pandemic and that nobody can be denied essential benefits and services like sick pay, urgent repairs or housing needs. More information is available on NYC.gov/workers.

One member of the public asked if an employee goes out on vacation, will their job be guaranteed when they get back. It was confirmed that it is not possible to dismiss an employee on the grounds of either sick leave or vacation time.

To apply for COVID-19 sick leave, click here. To file a labor complaint via the DOL Complaint process related to the COVID-19 crisis, click here.

 

Volunteer Response

The Governor announced that an additional 12,000 healthcare workers, including retirees and students, have signed up to volunteer to help against the COVID-19 pandemic, bringing the total number of volunteers to more than 52,000. Additionally, more than 10,000 mental health professionals, including individuals from other states, have signed up to provide free online mental health services. New Yorkers can call the state’s hotline at 1-844-863-9314 to schedule a free appointment.

New York needs help. More citizens are needed to join reserve staff. If you are a recently retired medical professional, a therapist, a psychologist or a qualified medical or nursing school student or staff member, the State wants your help. If you have family or friends out of state that are medical professionals, the State wants their help too. Enlist here: health.ny.gov/assistance

Donations

Governor Cuomo also announced the State has received significant donations from a number of major corporations, philanthropic organizations and celebrities to help increase the state’s supply capacity amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. You can help by donating to CityMeals, Feeding America, and the United Nations/WHO COVID-19 Response Fund. Donations can also be made to NYC Health + Hospitals HERE.

Community 3D Printing Initiative

A medical professional friend is partnering with several hospitals in NYC and Westchester county on a Community 3D Printing Initiative to produce 3D printed face shields. If anyone has a 3D printer, please consider printing the necessary components to the face shields. A drop-off location will be determined.

If you are willing to print the components, please do not hesitate to contact Dr. Stephen Erosa via email at stephen.erosa@gmail.com.

DMV

To help New Yorkers avoid potential hardship, the DMV has extended until further notice any driver’s licenses, non-driver identification, vehicle registration or 45-day temporary registration issued by auto dealers which were due to expire on or after March 1. Yearly vehicle inspections that are due to expire are also extended indefinitely.

Census 2020 continues  

The board dispelled a rumor that receipt of any type of temporary financial assistance from the federal government during the coronavirus pandemic, such as low-interest loans of up to $75,000 for small businesses, is not contingent upon completing the census. Nonetheless, the public were reminded that it is, of course, in everyone’s interest to complete the census anyway to ensure that the community receives the usual, long-term federal funding it needs for urgent public services like hospitals which are needed now more than ever.

The census committee also confirmed that a successful event was held at Gracie Mansion on February 11 with a very big turnout, and that the next census event was slated for April 20, subject to prevailing shelter-in-place restrictions. A census outreach kit is available to those assisting with census outreach efforts. These are currently being carried out by telephone.

 

Important Numbers and Links 

• 24-Hour NYS Coronavirus Hotline: 1-888-364-3065
• Use this hotline if you’re experiencing Coronavirus symptoms to get evaluated & possibly set up an appointment for testing
• For NYC Updates: English – Text COVID to 692-692 | Spanish – Text COVIDESP to 692-692
• For NYS email updates sign up here:
• https://now.ny.gov/page/s/coronavirus-updates
• Connect to Free & Confidential Mental Health + Substance Abuse Support at 1-888-NYC-WELL (1-888 692-9355)
• NYC’s 24-hour Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-621-4673
• Her Justice Legal Help Line: 718.562.8181
• Tenants’ Rights Hotline: 212-979-0611
• As you practice social distancing, take a few minutes to call the older people in our lives and our neighbors in the aging community. Give them a call to check-in, ask how they’re doing at 212-AGING-NYC (212-244-6469).
• Vulnerable New Yorkers who have symptoms can call 1-844-NYC-4NYC for more information, you can click on the link below to find the full details of the press release:
• https://www1.nyc.gov/office-of-the-mayor/news/166-20/mayor-de-blasio-nyc-health-hospitals-expand-appointment-only-covid-19-testing-capacity
• Assistance & Guidance for Businesses Impacted Due to Novel Coronavirus:
• https://www1.nyc.gov/site/sbs/businesses/covid19-business-outreach.page

 

The presidential primary has been moved to June 23.  Absentee balloting will be made available to ensure people’s safety in the event that social distancing is still required by that time.