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Full text of all previous COVID updates (since March 2020) are in this archive.

This newsletter will take next week off,
and return for a final edition on Thursday, Dec. 30, 2021. 

Friends,

I sent this on Thursday, December 16, 2021; I thought those of you who didn’t get a chance to read it on Thursday might welcome the chance to see it on Saturday morning.

New York City’s COVID positivity rate is now 5.07%, up from 3.13% last week. (Those interested in diving more deeply into local COVID statistics can check the NYC Dept. of Health website or thecity.nyc’s COVID tracker.)

The US passed another milestone this week: 800,000 deaths due to COVID (one-quarter of which occurred since the vaccines became available at the start of this year), according to the Johns Hopkins COVID database. 

It’s clear that COVID isn’t done with us. As David Leonhardt in the NY Times’ “The Morning” newsletter put it Thursday (12/16), “Get ready for the Omicron surge, and take it seriously.”

One of the first scholarly examinations of the Omicron variant was presented by a Japanese scientist, Hiroshi Nishiura, at a meeting of the Japanese health ministry’s advisory panel last Wednesday (11/8). He found that the new variant is 4.2 times more transmissible than Delta. “The omicron variant transmits more, and escapes immunity built naturally and through vaccines more,” Nishiura said in his analysis. 

The Omicron variant is causing new cases to double every 2-3 days in Great Britain (at 200,000 cases identified per day earlier this week). The prevalence of Omicron in the US jumped sevenfold in the past week, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and is now detected (officially) in 36 states.

NYU has closed its campus and pushed final exams online after a “considerable acceleration” of COVID cases in its community (on the heels of Cornell doing the same after a burst of 900 COVID cases, including many Omicron cases among the already-vaccinated). An off-site holiday party at the Manhattan DA’s office has quarantined 40 members of its Trial Bureau. Many Broadway shows are canceling performances after performers or crew members test positive, and the Metropolitan Opera will now require boosters for all attendees. The White House is canceling its holiday cocktail party schedule, and Apple has announced a nationwide mask requirement for its retail stores and is postponing its non-retail employees’ return to office.  

The CDC briefed two possible scenarios this week, according to the Washington Post: 

“The worst-case scenario has spooked top health officials, who fear that a fresh wave, layered on top of delta and influenza cases in what one described as ‘a triple whammy,’ could overwhelm health systems and devastate communities, particularly those with low vaccination rates… The second scenario outlines a smaller omicron surge in the spring. It’s unclear which scenario is more likely.” 

The good news is that the vaccines work. A new study by the Commonwealth Fund estimates that the US vaccination campaign helped prevent 1.1 million deaths and more than 10.3 million hospitalizations from COVID. 

And the early data shows that they work against Omicron. If the current vaccine recommendations are followed-- a booster shot six months after the two-shot Moderna or Pfizer vaccines-- chances of people getting very sick or even hospitalized from Delta or Omicron are vastly diminished. 

These facts explain why Mayor de Blasio has instituted a vaccine mandate for private sector employers starting Monday (12/27).

All private-sector employers in NYC must see proof of employees’ first dose by 12/27 and proof of a second dose by Thursday, 2/10 (unless the employee got the single-shot Johnson & Johnson). Those employers are required to sign and publicly post an affirmation that they’re complying with the mandate. Also included are rideshare drivers, people who rent space in a coworking office, and therapists who visit clients in their home. The City may fine employers $1,000+ for violations. Visit this City Vaccine Workplace Requirement webpage to learn more about complying with the mandate. 

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Thanks to all who donated to the Sugarplum Sled toy drive. My office hosted a wrapping party with Sled founders and volunteers this week and then delivered the gifts to PS 188 on the Lower East Side and PS 76 in Harlem. The Sled is still accepting donations through Wednesday (12/22).

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Tuesday (12/21) at 3 pm is my final Manhattan Vaccine and Recovery Task Force meeting, covering workforce development. Register for the Zoom here. Thank you to everyone who has joined these meetings over the last year to help us build a healthier, stronger Manhattan.

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My budget staff has launched its annual capital funding process, and there are different steps depending on the type of applicant you are:

• This week, we opened the full application for all City of New York entities (including public schools). Apply here by Thursday, 2/24/22.
• We haven’t yet opened the application for all other categories of applicants (nonprofits, charter schools, etc.), but we have opened a request for letters of intent from those applicants. Because I’m leaving office, these letters of intent will help incoming Borough President Mark Levine become familiar with interested organizations and their projects. Submit your organization’s letter of intent here by Friday, 1/14/22. (The full application for these organizations will open in January 2022.)

If you have questions, contact Vanessa Diaz-Lopez (vdiaz-lopez@manhattanbp.nyc.gov, 212-669-4814) or Nelson S. Andino (nandino@manhattanbp.nyc.gov, 212-669-8145).

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Applications are now open for the cultural tourism grants my office administers in partnership with the NYC & Co. Foundation. These small grants support arts and culture organizations and promote tourism to all neighborhoods in Manhattan hosting music, theater, walking tours, festivals, and film screenings. Apply here by Friday, 1/28/22.

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As I wind down my eight years as Manhattan Borough President, my office has published an eight-page newspaper that tries to summarize all that we’ve done-- including all the capital funding we’ve allocated, our neighborhood outreach, and efforts to improve transportation, sustainability, and education. If you’d like us to mail you a copy of this newspaper, fill out this form TODAY with your postal address, and we’ll get it out to you before the end of the month. (The page size is the same as the NY Times-- a “broadsheet”-- so it’s difficult to print and read at home; but if you want to read it onscreen, I’ve uploaded the eight-page pdf here for downloading.)

The NYC Dept. of Transportation is now accepting applications for new and returning Open Streets (app closes 4/28/22) and for Public Space Programming, which are free arts, culture, fitness, or educational experiences (app closes 1/28/22).

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Small businesses can apply for a $10,000 resilience grant from the NYC Dept. of Small Business Services. Eligible businesses are in the arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation, or food services sector or are in low-to-moderate-income areas as defined here. Apply here.

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The public middle and high school application process will start in January 2022, but here are some key things to know:

• Middle school applications will open the week of 1/10 and close the week of 2/28.

• High school applications will open the week of 1/24 and close the week of 2/28.

• Offers will be sent in May.

• Middle schools won’t be allowed to use academic screens, but high schools can. The only screening criteria will be first semester grades from this school year and a work sample (no attendance or state test scores). The screening process will also be managed centrally, rather than by individual schools.

• High schools will be allowed to use borough and zone geographic priorities.

Today (12/18), students, parents, and educators are invited to a workshop about how to apply to high schools, hosted by InsideSchools and the New York Public Library. Attend on Zoom or at the NYPL Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library Teen Center (455 5th Ave. at 40th St.). The English session is at 2 pm, and the Spanish session is at 3:15 pm; register for either here.

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The annual official New York State holiday drive is accepting new unwrapped toys, coats, and school supplies at the Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. State Office Building (163 W. 125th St.).

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It’s almost time for NYC Parks’ annual “Mulchfest”-- drop off your Christmas tree at the parks on this map from 12/26/21–1/9-22 during park hours, and your tree will get a second life as wood chip mulch.

I’m hoping you can take 10 minutes to complete the Communities Speak survey, which is collecting feedback from individuals, families, and small businesses to give to Mayor-elect Eric Adams. (Take it in English or Spanish.) The survey results will highlight where New Yorkers would like to see action taken, funds invested, and policies changed. Communities Speak is a collaboration among Columbia University researchers, community-based organizations, and City officials.

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The Governors Island Winter Village opened this week, featuring a 5,000-square-foot ice skat­ing rink, fire pits, holiday light displays, food vendors, and activities for all ages. Ice skating admission is free on Fridays. See the Governors Island ferry schedule here.

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Enter the New York State “Ski for Free” vaccine sweepstakes, which is giving away hundreds of lift tickets to ski mountains across the state. Entrants must be kids 5–11 who got their first shot after 11/3 or people 16+ who got their booster after 11/3.

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Kids 10–18 interested in criminal justice issues and improving police-community relations are invited to apply for the Civilian Complaint Review Board’s Youth Advisory Council through Thursday, 12/30-- apply here.

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Applications are now open for the spring session of Cooper Union’s Retraining Program for Immigrant Engineers. RPIE is a free professional development opportunity that supports immigrant, refugee, and asylee engineers, technologists, or those in related fields as they build a competitive portfolio to equip them for the career they want in the US. Contact the program at rpie@cooper.edu.

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Watch the free, two-part special “Once Upon the Holidays” from the Young People’s Chorus of NYC, featuring 500 members of the award-winning chorus singing, dancing, and acting. Watch part 1 and part 2.

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Upper East Side and Roosevelt Island artists are invited to participate in an exhibit that will be hosted by Community Board 8 on Saturday, 2/12/22. Interested artists should send a photo of their piece to info@cb8m.com using “Art Submission” in the subject line by Monday, 1/31.

EVENTS

Today (12/18) from 10 am – 5 pm (excluding 1:30–2:30 pm), kids 5–11 can get vaccinated at the NYPL Bloomingdale Branch (150 W. 100th St.).

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Today (12/18) at 10:15 am, the City and the National Action Network honor former Representative Charles Rangel and 1199SEIU Union President George Gresham. Join at the House of Justice (106 W. 145th St.) or watch online.

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Today (12/18) at 11 am and 1 pm, folklorist Linda Humes hosts a holiday story hour at the Sugar Hill Children’s Museum of Art and Storytelling (898 St Nicholas Ave. at 155th St.). Through stories, songs, and music this show honors Chanukah, Christmas, Three Kings Day, and Kwanzaa.  

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Today (12/18) from noon – 2 pm at the NYC AIDS Memorial (7th Ave. at W. 12th St./Greenwich Ave.) is a medicine recycling drive sponsored by Council Speaker Corey Johnson and AID FOR AIDS. Accepted medications include antiretrovirals and others for acute or chronic conditions.

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Today (12/18) from 1–5 pm, East Harlem restaurant Sapoara (2262 1st Ave.) is hosting a toy giveaway. 

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The Harlem Night Market at La Marqueta returns this weekend (1590 Park Ave.) with local food vendors, music, and family-friendly activities. The market will be open today (12/18, 4–9 pm), and Sunday (12/19, 3–8 pm), hosted by Uptown Grand Central, TBo Harlem, Union Settlement, and NYC Public Markets.

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Today (12/18) through Sunday, 1/2 is the West Harlem Festival of Food, featuring more than a dozen restaurants and companion events, hosted by the West Harlem Development Corporation and Harlem One Stop. Learn more here.

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Tuesday (12/21) at 11 am, kids 3–5 are invited to El Museo del Barrio’s “Coquí Club,” a free bilingual program exploring how Puerto Rico celebrates the holidays with food and music. Click the title to register. 

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Tuesday (12/21) from 4–8 pm, the NYPD 25th Precinct hosts a toy giveaway (120 E. 119th St.). Show up early-- toys will only be given out while supplies last (children must be present).

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Wednesday (12/22) from 2–3:30 pm, New York Common Pantry hosts a free grab-and-go holiday lunch and coat giveaway at 8 E. 109th St.

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Saturday (12/25) from noon – 3 pm, all are welcome to pick up a grab-and-go Christmas meal from the Goddard Riverside Older Adult Center (593 Columbus Ave. at 88th St.).

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Saturday (12/25) from 12:30–3:30 pm, the National Action Network hosts a Christmas meal distribution at the House of Justice (106 W. 14th St.).

As Covid Deaths Rise, Lingering Grief Gets a New Name
Prolonged grief disorder was recently added to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, just as experts are predicting a coming wave of severe bereavement.
By Dawn MacKeen, NY Times, Dec. 8, 2021

The Coronavirus Attacks Fat Tissue, Scientists Find
The research may help explain why people who are overweight and obese have been at higher risk of severe illness and death from Covid.
By Roni Caryn Rabin, NY Times, Dec. 8, 2021

CDC signs off on booster shot of Pfizer vaccine for older teens
CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky's approval means 16- and 17-year-olds can immediately begin getting their boosters.
NBC News, Dec. 9, 2021

For the Elderly, Complacency Could Be a Killer
By Zeynep Tufekci, NY Times Opinion, Dec. 9, 2021

Can Anything Stop the Omicron Wave? At this point, America has limited options.
By David Wallace-Wells, New York Magazine, Dec. 13, 2021

Pfizer data shows that its COVID-19 pill is effective against severe disease
By Scott Hensley, NPR, Dec. 14, 2021

Vaccine protection vs. omicron infection may drop to 30% but does cut severe disease
By Michaeleen Doucleff, NPR, Dec. 14, 2021

COVID-19 live updates: Omicron will be dominant variant in US 'very soon,' Fauci says
By Morgan Winsor, Emily Shapiro, and Ivan Pereira, ABC News, Dec. 14, 2021

Wealthy nations rush boosters to counter omicron as poorer nations await first doses
By Adam Taylor, Washington Post, Dec. 14, 2021

Study: Vaccines may have prevented 1.1 million covid-19 deaths, more than 10 million hospitalizations in U.S.
By Paulina Villegas, Washington Post, Dec. 15, 2021

New Studies Raise Hopes That Vaccines Prevent Severe Disease From Omicron
By Carl Zimmer and Sheryl Stolberg, NY Times, Dec. 15, 2021

Omicron Is About to Overwhelm Us
By David Wallace-Wells, New York Magazine, Dec. 15, 2021

Don’t Be Surprised When You Get Omicron
America is in for a lot more breakthrough infections. Here’s what to do if you fall sick.
By Yasmin Tayag, The Atlantic, Dec. 15, 2021

Unvaccinated Covid Patients Push Hospital Systems Past the Brink
Extraordinary reportage behind the walls of a community hospital in Kentucky
By Drew Armstrong, David Ingold, and Paul Murray; photography by Jon Cherry, Bloomberg, Dec. 15, 2021

As always, get in touch if you have a problem or concern we can help address: 212-669-8300 or info@manhattanbp.nyc.gov.