Dear Neighbor,

Yesterday, the city saw more than 4,500 new cases for a total of 8,115 testing positive for coronavirus in New York City and 11,600 in New York State. 

Starting TONIGHT, Sunday, March 22nd at 8 p.m. all non-essential businesses must close their front doors. This does not include groceries, healthcare, non-profits delivering vital human services, and a list of other essential business listed below.

We are actively working with members of the community just like you to expand testing, treatment capacity, and to get vital supplies.

Selling Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): With a shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) including gloves, masks, and gowns, we are asking anyone to sell any products not in use. Anyone interested in selling to the state should email [email protected] with copy to [email protected].

Making PPE: We are encouraging any company with proper equipment or personnel to begin the manufacture of PPE products. If you are interested in receiving state funding to manufacture PPE products, please email [email protected] with copy to [email protected].

More Beds: The Governor is working with the Army Corps of Engineers to convert the Javits Center into a temporary hospital. This will add to 350 beds we are hoping to open at Coler Hospital on Roosevelt Island in my district. If you have space with existing capacity or commercial space that can be converted, please email [email protected].

New York State on Pause: Late on Friday afternoon, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the “New York State on PAUSE” Executive Order effective TONIGHT, Sunday, March 22nd at 8 p.m. The Executive Order will be in effect through April 19, 2020 though it may be modified as necessary including being extended.

The Governor's 10-point NYS on PAUSE plan is as follows:

1. Effective at 8 p.m. on Sunday, March 22, all non-essential businesses statewide will be closed;
2. Non-essential gatherings of individuals of any size for any reason (e.g. parties, celebrations or other social events) are canceled or postponed at this time;
3. Any concentration of individuals outside their home must be limited to workers providing essential services and social distancing should be practiced;
4. When in public individuals must practice social distancing of at least six feet from others;
5. Businesses and entities that provide other essential services must implement rules that help facilitate social distancing of at least six feet;
6. Individuals should limit outdoor recreational activities to non-contact and avoid activities where they come in close contact with other people;
7. Individuals should limit use of public transportation to when absolutely necessary and should limit potential exposure by spacing out at least six feet from other riders;
8. Sick individuals should not leave their home unless to receive medical care and only after a telehealth visit to determine if leaving the home is in the best interest of their health;
9. Young people should also practice social distancing and avoid contact with vulnerable populations; and
10. Use precautionary sanitizer practices such as using isopropyl alcohol wipes.

"Matilda's Law" includes the following rules for vulnerable populations (including anybody 70 and older or with a compromised immune system):

• Remain indoors;
• Can go outside for solitary exercise;
• Pre-screen all visitors and aides by taking their temperature and seeing if person is exhibiting other flu-like symptoms;
• Do not visit households with multiple people;
• Wear a mask when in the company of others;
• To the greatest extent possible, everyone in the presence of vulnerable people should wear a mask;
• Always stay at least six feet away from individuals; and
• Do not take public transportation unless urgent and absolutely necessary.

ESSENTIAL BUSINESSES

The Governor has provided additional guidance detailing essential businesses or entities. For purposes of Executive Order 202.6, "Essential Business," means:

1. Essential Health Care Operations, including:

• research and laboratory services
• hospitals
• walk-in-care health facilities
• emergency veterinary and livestock services
• elder care
• medical wholesale and distribution
• home health care workers or aides for the elderly
• doctor and emergency dental
• nursing homes, or residential health care facilities or congregate care facilities
• medical supplies and equipment manufacturers and providers

2. Essential Infrastructure, Including:

• utilities including power generation, fuel supply and transmission
• public water and wastewater
• telecommunications and data centers
• airports/airlines
• transportation infrastructure such as bus, rail, or for-hire vehicles, garages
• hotels, and places of accommodation

• food processing, manufacturing agents, including all foods and beverages
• chemicals
• medical equipment/instruments
• pharmaceuticals
• sanitary products
• telecommunications
• microelectronics/semi-conductor
• agriculture/farms
• household paper products

• grocery stores including all food and beverage stores
• pharmacies
• convenience stores
• farmer's markets
• gas stations
• restaurants/bars (but only for take-out/delivery)
• hardware and building material stores

• trash and recycling collection, processing and disposal
• mail and shipping services
• laundromats
• building cleaning and maintenance
• child care services
• auto repair
• warehouse/distribution and fulfillment
• funeral homes, crematoriums and cemeteries
• storage for essential businesses
• animal shelters

• banks
• insurance
• payroll
• accounting
• services related to financial markets

• homeless shelters and congregate care facilities
• food banks
• human services providers whose function includes the direct care of patients in state-licensed or funded voluntary programs; the care, protection, custody and oversight of individuals both in the community and in state-licensed residential facilities; those operating community shelters and other critical human services agencies providing direct care or support

• skilled trades such as electricians, plumbers
• other related construction firms and professionals for essential infrastructure or for emergency repair and safety purposes

• defense and national security-related operations supporting the U.S. Government or a contractor to the US government

• law enforcement
• fire prevention and response
• building code enforcement
• security
• emergency management and response
• building cleaners or janitors
• general maintenance whether employed by the entity directly or a vendor
• automotive repair
• disinfection

• logistics
• technology support for online services
• child care programs and services
• government owned or leased buildings
• essential government services

Single Employees: Any business that only has a single occupant/employee (i.e. gas station) has been deemed exempt and need not submit a request to be designated as an essential business.

If you believe your business is essential and was omitted from the list you may complete this form and email it to [email protected] with copy to [email protected].

Thank you for all of the sacrifices you are making as we seek to get through this pandemic together. While we've done our best to provide the most useful updates, we've put together additional resources and will be updating them at BenKallos.com/coronavirus

As the coronavirus continues to spread, my team and I are monitoring the latest updates and will keep you apprised of the simple steps you can take to keep yourself and our community safe. Please continue to let me know any question or feedback you have, or even just how you are staying engaged or passing the time at home.
 
 Sincerely,
 
Ben Kallos
Council Member, District 5

P.S. If the links in this email aren’t working for you, please click here to view it in your browser. You can see our prior updates at BenKallos.com/newsletters or click Update #1, Update #2, and Update #3.