Complete COVID-19 Update For Brooklyn May 20th
As of 2:45 PM on Wednesday, May 20th, there are 192,374 confirmed COVID-19 cases in New York City and 52,551 confirmed cases in Brooklyn. There were 16,153 confirmed deaths citywide, with an additional 4,781 probable deaths, including 4,922 confirmed deaths, and an 1,558 additional probable deaths in Brooklyn.
EDUCATION
Mayor de Blasio and Chancellor Carranza announced that New York City public schools are remote learning and are closed until September 2020. The DOE will provide computers and internet access to every student who needs it. Call (718) 935-5100 (press 5). Parents and guardians of students with disabilities can send questions to specialeducation@schools.nyc.gov. As per Mayor de Blasio, non-public school New York City students with disabilities are eligible for free iPads.
Women.NYC, which is powered by the New York City Economic Development Corporation (EDC), released a downloadable guide for free and low-cost tech courses in New York City. NYN Media has a series of upcoming free webinars for those in the non-profit community. Generation Citizen has provided free online resources to stay educated during the pandemic.
Mayor de Blasio and School Chancellor Carranza announced a summer learning plan in which schools will begin to notify families in June if their student(s) need or are recommended to participate.
HEALTH
COVID-19 testing sites are available in your area with new ones being added on an ongoing basis such as the new site at Midwood Pre-K at 1223 Coney Island Avenue in Brooklyn. 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.
Beginning Monday, May 24th, New York City will offer free, on-site diagnostic coronavirus tests to all 169 nursing homes across the five boroughs.
The City has announced that anyone with a fever, cough, shortness of breath, and symptoms such as loss of smell and taste can get tested for COVID-19. Anyone who has been in close contact with a confirmed COVID-19 patient is also eligible for testing. Workers in nursing homes, homeless shelters, and adult care facilities are eligible as well, regardless of whether they have symptoms. The City is opening a dozen new testing sites, in addition to their existing publicly run sites.
If you need mental health support, the New York Emotional Support Hotline is (844) 863-9314.
The New York Peace Institute has online resources to mitigate stress with tools such as meditation.
As per Governor Cuomo, hospitals will be prioritizing COVID-19 testing for children showing symptoms of Pediatric Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome (PMIS).
If you are feeling sick, please wait three to four days before contacting a doctor. Use telemedicine services BEFORE going to the doctor’s office, urgent care, or the ER. Thanks to our advocacy and Governor Cuomo’s leadership, co-pays for telemedicine consultations have been eliminated due to COVID-19. Call (800) 633-4227 or your doctor for more information if you are on Medicaid. Whether you utilize Medicaid, private insurance, or are a self-payer, options are offered across many specialty areas. Urgent care telemedicine is available with New York-Presbyterian, Mount Sinai, or NYU Langone. Mental health telemedicine is available with Columbia Doctors. Diabetes telemedicine help is available with NYC Health + Hospitals. If you know other services, email askeric@brooklynbp.nyc.gov.
The City has created a new, online portal that will allow New Yorkers to self-report COVID-19 data, helping the City to communicate with affected members of the public and assist in the identification of areas that may require an enhanced response. By going online or calling 311, New Yorkers can quickly input information about themselves and legal guardians can add information for children or adults in their care. New Yorkers can update their status at any time through the portal or by calling 311. The portal is available in 11 languages: Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, English, French, Haitian Creole, Korean, Polish, Russian, Spanish, and Urdu. It is not intended as a mechanism for providing medical advice or treatment and should not be relied upon as a method to obtain medical care or emergency service. Personal information will be stored securely and only accessible to City employees protecting public health. It will not be accessible by ICE or used for law enforcement or any other purpose.
New York Road Runners has released an online portal to keep you “Active at Home.” Additionally, their new online resource, NYRR Striders at Home, offers exercises and activities for our senior community.
New York City Health and Hospitals (H+H) will hire 1,000 additional people by the end of May with an immediate start date. Contact tracers should have public health backgrounds and an understanding of racism and its impact on underrepresented communities. Details on the scope of work, job requirements, salary, benefits, and how to apply are available here.
FINANCIAL SUPPORT
Unemployed New Yorkers can access support at the New York State Bar Association (NYSBA)’s new website, NYSBA.org/legalhelp, which was set up to provide resources for filing an unemployment claim. If needed, NYSBA will match people with a pro bono attorney.
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 will offer no-interest recovery loans between $500 and $30,000.
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.
Tax Day has been pushed back to Wednesday, July 15th. The New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) is now providing virtual and assisted self-prep free tax prep services. New Yorkers who earned $64,000 or less in 2019 are eligible for Virtual Free Tax Preparation with a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)/Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) certified preparer. New Yorkers who earned $69,000 or less in 2019 are eligible for free Assisted Self-Preparation; filers will need access to a computer, tablet, or smartphone; a stable internet connection. Services are currently offered in English, Spanish, French, Haitian Creole, Russian, and Arabic, with others to come.
DCWP’s Office of Financial Empowerment has transitioned all financial counseling and coaching programs to offer services remotely.
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).
School sites are open for grab-and-go meals this week, from 7:30 AM to 1:30 PM, outside of main entrances of every school building. The program is now open to anyone who wants food, no questions asked. Go to schools.nyc.gov, or text “FOOD” or “COMIDA” to 877-877 for lists of where meals are being served.
New Yorkers can use their SNAP benefits to order online.
The City has streamlined the home delivery of meals to seniors and is working to support our food pantries, which are critical partners in these efforts. In the interim, you can find a list of key resources at nyc.gov/GetFood or by calling 311 and saying “Get Food.”
Hunter College New York City Food Policy Center has partnered with Share Meals, Hunger Free America, BetaNYC, and Plentiful to compile a listing and guide on food resources available to New Yorkers.
GENERAL
The New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) announced that in observance of Memorial Day, there will be no trash or recycling collection, or street cleaning, on Monday, May 25th. Residents who normally receive Monday trash collection should place their material out at curbside after 4:00 PM on Monday, May 25th for collection. Residents who normally receive Monday recycling collection should place their material out at curbside after 4:00 PM on Sunday, May 31st for collection on Monday, June 1st.
Governor Cuomo announced that religious services with 10 or fewer people will be permitted in New York State.
You can do your part to secure respect, money, and resources by filling out the 2020 Census. Please fill out the Census online and #MakeBrooklynCount.
Visit MutualAid.NYC for information on groups and individuals working on mutual aid in their communities, as well as if you need help or can help.
The New York City Office of Emergency Management and the Mayor’s Office of Animal Welfare announced the launch of the NYC COVID-19 Pet Hotline. Pet Hotline operators can be reached directly at (877) 204-8821, from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM daily.
As per Governor Cuomo, all registered voters may apply for an Absentee Ballot to vote in the upcoming June 23rd elections.
All publicly permitted events that were scheduled in the month of May and June have been cancelled.
Per Mayor de Blasio, the New York Police Department (NYPD) will focus its social distancing enforcement on large gatherings moving forward. Civilian ambassadors, houses of worship, and community groups will help educate people and hand out face coverings; this follows guidance shared from Borough President Adams.
Per Governor Cuomo, the PAUSE plan will stay in effect through Thursday, May 28th. The maximum social distancing fines have been increased from $500 to $1,000. One hundred percent of a non-exempt essential service business’s workforce should stay home. Guidelines on what essential services must still be in person can be found here. A halt on all non-essential public gatherings remains in effect.
If you or your house of worship would like to sign up to participate in our rolling 24-hour prayer initiative, go to brooklyn-usa.org/24hrs-of-prayer to share and commit to the day you are planning to hold your vigil.
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.
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.
For veterans and their families, the NYC Veterans Alliance has a list of resources on their website.
While all Brooklyn Public Library branches are closed until further notice, services and programming are still available online at their website.
If you see price gouging, report it to 1 (800) 697-1220, fill out the complaint form on the New York State Attorney General’s website, or email askeric@brooklynbp.nyc.gov.
HOUSING
The Rent Guidelines Board has resources regarding its upcoming meetings, hearings, and testimony registration online here.
A statewide eviction moratorium is currently in effect, including residential and commercial properties as well as foreclosures, according to the Office of Court Administration. The eviction moratorium has been extended to Thursday, August 20th, and Governor Cuomo has also announced the State is banning late payments or fees for missed rent payments during the eviction moratorium, as well as allowing renters facing financial hardship due to COVID-19 to use their security deposit as payment and repay their security deposit over time.
Utilities have been ordered to not shut off service for gas, water, or electricity. Internet services will not be cut off during this time.
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”.
NYCHA’s journal has information about how they are responding to COVID-19. Information is available here about hardship reductions for NYCHA residents struggling to pay rent.
As per Mayor de Blasio, all tax lien sales will be postponed from May until at least August.
National Grid customers should be aware of a phone scam demanding immediate bill payment and threatening service disconnection.
TRANSPORTATION
The Driver Resource Center launched by the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) offers a wide range of services to all TLC-licensed drivers and medallion owner-drivers.
Alternate Side Parking (ASP) resumed earlier this week and continues through Sunday, May 24th for a citywide clean sweep. ASP will then continue to be suspended until Sunday, June 7th. Parking meters are still in effect.
There is currently no subway service from 1:00 AM to 5:00 AM to allow for cleaning and disinfecting of trains and stations. The “MTA Overnight” page provides details on the service changes.
