Yesterday, the World Health Organization declared coronavirus a pandemic. Slowing the spread of this pandemic requires those who are sick and those who may have been exposed to the virus to “self-quarantine” at home.

But staying home is only an option if you have one. Evictions have long been a moral crisis in our state. Now it’s time to deal with the reality of their impact on public health. Click here and sign our petition demanding an eviction moratorium during the coronavirus crisis.

The virus is most dangerous to those with preexisting health issues, especially respiratory issues and to older people. But it is the responsibility of everyone to take steps to slow down the spread of the virus. Avoiding crowds, limiting social contact and staying at home when sick are all critical parts of mitigating the public health crisis.

In addition to calling for a moratorium on evictions (click here to sign our petition), NYCC is taking the following steps to slow the spread of coronavirus.

1.) Canceling all events after March 12th including chapter meetings, actions, trips and ESL classes. The NYCOFI tax-prep site will also be closed for the time being.

2.) Canceling all door-knocking and work in the field including canvassing, flyering, and etc.

3.) Encouraging staff to work from home as much as possible. We also encourage our members to not come into the office at this time.

Public health is a community effort and we hope everyone will do their part by following these prevention tips.

Prevention: These prevention tips will also help avoid the flu, common colds and commonly contracted viruses.

·  Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Germs live on surfaces that we are constantly touching. We pick them up and touch our face, primarily our mouth or eyes, and contract viruses.

·  Do not touch your face with unwashed hands. This is hard to do! Try carrying around something to keep in your hands to fiddle with. It will help you notice before you touch your face.

·  Stay home if you are sick. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. This is both for you, and the community. If you're sick with a common flu, you are at greater risk of COVID-19. And you could be a risk to your friends and neighbors. If you need something, call a service provider or friend to make a plan that avoids you coming in contact with people.

·  Older people, especially those with compromised immune systems or chronic respiratory or coronary issues, should be especially cautious. Do not visit people who are feeling sick, and do not have people visit you. Limit your time in crowded spaces, like trains, buses and public spaces. If you need something, call a service provider or friend to make a plan that avoids you coming in contact with people.

·  Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or sleeve when sneezing or coughing — do not use your hands. This reduces transmission and will help keep you and others healthy.

·  Do not shake hands. Instead, wave or elbow bump. We are still family! But let's avoid hand-to-hand contact for a bit.

·  Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or disinfecting wipes. Consider doing this for your phone as well.

·  Get your flu shot. Although the flu shot will not protect you from COVID-19, it will help prevent the flu which has similar symptoms to this coronavirus.

·  Consider making changes to reduce your time in crowded spaces. Can you telecommute, bike or walk to work? Can you change your work hours slightly to when less people are on trains and buses?

Symptoms of COVID-19 can include fever, cough or shortness of breath. Symptoms can appear to be a flu or common cold. Most people with COVID-19 will have mild symptoms. People who are at most risk for severe illness are those who are older, especially those with compromised immune systems, chronic respiratory or coronary issues, and diabetes.

CDC believes at this time that symptoms may appear in as few as 2 days or as long as 14 days after exposure to the virus.

·  Call your healthcare provider. Unless your symptoms are serious, call your healthcare provider before traveling to see them. Together you can make a plan that keeps you and everyone else healthy. If in an emergency, make sure to tell healthcare providers and others that you believe you have COVID-19 so they can take the proper precautions.

·  Avoid contact with others. Stay at home and avoid contact with others. Continue to wash your hands and clean surfaces regularly. Cough and sneeze into your elbow.

·  Get a flu shot. Although the flu shot will not protect you from COVID-19, it will help prevent the flu which has similar symptoms to this coronavirus.

·  Stock up on cleaning supplies and disinfectants. Remember, you should wash your hands and surfaces a lot! Stock up.

·  Stock up on common medicines for flu and cold symptoms. Many COVID-19 cases are mild so you should prepare just like you would for flu season. And because you are at greater risk of transmission when you are sick, you want to avoid going out even if you have a minor cold.

·  Stock up on food. Similar to the above. If you get sick, you want to be stocked up so you don't have to go out. If you do need something, call a service provider or friend to make a plan that avoids you coming in contact with people.

·  Masks are ONLY helpful when you are sick, NOT as a precaution to contracting COVID-19. Masks are helpful to keeping in the germs that you sneeze or cough out, but they are not as helpful for keeping out the germs that you don't want to pick up. This is because our biggest transmission risk is not by inhaling germs, but by picking them up on our hands and touching our face.

Best,