NYC COVID-19 Resources:

NYC COVID-19 City-wide information portal

Find the resources across NYC City agencies for New Yorkers, Businesses, and Non-Profits.

Click to access: NYC.gov/COVID-

COVID-19 Testing Sites

To find a testing site near you, enter your address below, or text "COVID TEST" to 855-48.

Click to access: NYC.gov/COVIDTEST

COVID-19 Vaccine DOHMH has created a Vaccine web page to keep New Yorkers up to date.

Click to access: NYC.gov/COVIDVACCINE

COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility

The COVID-19 vaccine is now available to certain groups in NYC. Learn which groups are currently eligible for the vaccine, and which may be eligible next.

The vaccines are safe and will help protect us and others from COVID-19. Put simply, they will save lives. Learn more about COVID-19 Vaccine facts here.

Click to access:

NYC.gov/COVIDVACCINEDISTRIBUTION

COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Data

Through the City's Vaccine Command Center, we will closely monitor how many vaccine doses have been:

• Reserved by the federal government for NYC

• Delivered to NYC

• Given to people in NYC

Click to access: COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution DATA

COVID-19 Data

The data reflects the most recent information collected about people who have tested positive for COVID-19 in NYC. It is updated daily.

Click to access COVID-19 DATA

General Information on COVID-19

There is increasing transmission of COVID-19 in New York City and widespread transmission across the United States and in many other countries. Read about: https://www1.nyc.gov/site/doh/covid/covid-19-main.page

New COVID-19 Variant

What we know - Viruses constantly change through mutation, and new variants of a virus are expected to occur over time. Sometimes new variants emerge and disappear. Other times, new variants emerge and persist. Multiple variants of the virus that causes COVID-19 have been documented in the United States and globally during this pandemic.

What we do not know - Scientists are working to learn more about these variants, and more studies are needed to understand:

• How widely these new variants have spread

• How the new variants differ

• How the disease caused by these new variants differs from the disease caused by other variants that are currently circulating

What it means- Public health officials are studying these variants quickly to learn more to control their spread. They want to understand whether the variants:

• Spread more easily from person to person

• Cause milder or more severe disease in people

• Are detected by currently available viral tests

• Respond to medicines currently being used to treat people for COVID-19

• Change the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines. There is no evidence that this is occurring, and most experts believe this is unlikely to occur because of the nature of the immune response to the virus.

Test and Trace Corps

The NYC Test & Trace Corps is a public health initiative to fight the threat of COVID-19.

Test – Get a COVID-19 Test and an Antibody test to know if you have been exposed to the virus. – The tests are FREE, confidential and safe. More than 200 testing sites now open. Learn more.

Trace – Answer the call of the Contact Tracers – they provide support to New Yorkers who test positive for COVID-19 and their close contacts. Learn more.

Take Care – Protect Yourself and Your Loved Ones – Safely isolate in a free, comfortable and convenient hotel room or at home. Learn more. Learn more.

Seasonal Flu (Influenza)

As the flu and COVID-19 will likely circulate at the same time this season, getting a flu vaccine is more important than ever.

https://www1.nyc.gov/site/doh/health/health-topics/flu-seasonal.page

COVID-19 Community Conversations:

The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is providing a free 60-minute virtual presentation entitled COVID-19 Community Conversations: Mental Health, Equity & Resilience. The COVID-19 Community Conversation presentation covers topics including grief, trauma, coping, resilience and mental health tips.

Click here to register for an upcoming presentation!

Economic Impact Payments

Under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021, eligible individuals and families will receive a second round of Economic Impact Payments (stimulus payments) by direct deposit or mail. The second payments are up to $600 for single filers and $1,200 for married couples filing jointly plus an additional $600 for each dependent child under age 17. No action is required by most eligible recipients. You can check your stimulus payment status via IRS at irs.gov/eip

If you did not receive a first or second stimulus payment and think you may be eligible, or did not receive the full payment amount, you may be eligible to obtain a stimulus payment by claiming the Recovery Rebate Credit when you file your 2020 federal tax return. You can learn about NYC Free Tax Prep services to file your taxes and receive a stimulus payment(s) for free.

Worried about or want to report fraudulent vaccine appoints and scams? Remember:

• You will never be asked to put a deposit down or provide credit card information to make a vaccination appointment in NYC

• Any incidence of vaccine fraud or abuse should be reported to the NYS Attorney General by filing a complaint via: https://ag.ny.gov/complaint-forms

• A hotline is also available to report vaccine abuse and fraud. New Yorkers who suspect fraud in the vaccine distribution process can call 833-VAX-SCAM (833-829-7226) toll-free or email the state Department of Health at STOPVAXFRAUD@health.ny.gov

Dear New Yorker,

I am honored to return to the Mayor's Community Affairs Unit, committed to serving you and the City of New York as we continue to overcome the pandemic and its challenges.

I know our amazing city will come together as we rebuild, and I'm thrilled to work alongside our communities to make it happen. This newsletter will continue to deliver information on critical resources and city updates that are key for our communities to stay informed.

I look forward to working with you for a recovery for all of us.

In partnership,

Roberto Pérez,

Commissioner, Mayor's Community Affairs Unit

Key Updates:

Mask to the Max – Health Department Updates Mask Guidance

The Health Department issued updated guidance on face coverings (PDF), one of the most critical tools to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The guidance recommends people over the age of two-years-old wear snug fitting masks with two or three layers of material to better prevent unfiltered air from passing through. (Click here for more information).

Pre-K

The pre-K application will open on February 24, 2021; the deadline to apply is April 7. During the application period, you can apply online or by phone. Here's what you can do now:

• Sign up for the pre-K admissions email list (Open external link). The Department of Education will send you updates, tips, and reminders throughout the process.

• Learn how to apply and how pre-K offers are made on this page. Missed the virtual Elementary Admissions Events? A recording from one of DOE's January sessions will be available soon, with captions in Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, French, Korean, Haitian Creole, Spanish, Russian and Urdu.

• Throughout the admissions process, you'll use MySchools.nyc (Open external link) to learn about pre-K programs, apply, get your offer, and learn about waitlists. Before the application opens you can:

• Set up your MySchools account (Open external link).

• Start exploring pre-K program options in MySchools' online, searchable pre-K directory (Open external link).

Additional Resources:

NYC Health Post-COVID Clinics:

Post-COVID care clinics bring together multidisciplinary teams (including pulmonology, cardiology, rehabilitation, neurology and mental health) to provide a comprehensive treatment approach. Click here to find out more information.

New York State of Health

Open Enrollment Period Extended Through March 31, 2021. New Yorkers can apply for coverage through NY State of Health, New York's Official Health Plan Marketplace, or directly through insurers.

New Yorkers can apply for coverage through NY State of Health online at nystateofhealth.ny.gov, by phone at 1-855-355-5777, and by connecting with a free enrollment assister.

GETFOODNYC:

Emergency Food Assistance Program - NYC.GOV/GETFOOD

Become an Emergency Food Provider -

https://www1.nyc.gov/site/hra/help/emergency-food-assistance-program.page

NYC Health + Hospitals:

As part of the largest municipal health care system in the world, NYC Health + Hospitals’ public hospitals and neighborhood health centers offer a wide variety of excellent mental health services to foster recovery from mental illness of all kinds. We help patients rediscover their strengths and abilities, as well as overcoming the stigma of mental illness. Click to learn more.

THRIVENYC:

Call 1-888-NYC-WELL If you are thinking about suicide, or know someone who is, counselors are available to listen to and support you 24/7. Contact NYC Well by calling 888-NYC-WELL (888-692-9355), texting “WELL” to 65173 or chatting at nyc.gov/nycwell. If you or someone you know is at immediate risk of hurting themselves, or in immediate danger because of a health condition or other situation, call 911.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8255

Hours: Available 24 hours.

Languages: English, Spanish.

Domestic Violence Support:

NYC 24-Hour Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-621-HOPE

NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP):

File Your Taxes with NYC Free Tax Prep

File your taxes in-person or online with NYC Free Tax Prep if you earned $68,000 or less in 2020. See filing options below. Additional sites will open in January. The deadline to file 2020 tax returns is April 15, 2021.

* Read FAQs about NYC Free Tax Prep.

Workplace Laws

NYC workplace laws are still in effect. There have been new amendments to the NYC Paid Safe and Sick Leave Law that will take effect in 2 Phases. Click here to learn more about employee rights and employer responsibilities.

Returning to Work During COVID-19

Important Information for Domestic Workers and Their Employers. Click here for more information.

Learn more about important guidelines and resources available to workers under Phase 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the reopening: www.nyc.gov/workers

COVID-19 Scams and Safety Tips

Important Information that describes common COVID-19-related scams and tips to stay safe (click here for more information).

NYC Department of Small Business Services:

Training for Your Employees,” a new resource that provides business owners and their employees with training in digital literacy, marketing tools, online security, and COVID-19 safety. Training courses include:

• Communication: Google Meet and Gmail

• Document Creation: Google Docs, Sheets, Slides

• Scheduling and Managing Zoom Meetings (for Hosts)

• Microsoft Office Basics

• Cloud Storage: Microsoft OneDrive and more.

Businesses can learn more about the program’s eligibility criteria and access the application at www.nyc.gov/trainingemployees.

NYC Mayor's Office to Protect Tenants:

Today is the final day of the blanket stay on eviction proceedings in Housing Court. Starting Monday, a limited number of eviction cases will resume.

Tenants can still prevent eviction through May 1, 2021 by submitting a Hardship Declaration form to their landlord and the court. Tenants are welcome to submit their Hardship Declarations any time up until May 1, 2021 to receive protection through that date.

To learn more, please visit http://nycourts.gov/covid-eefpa.shtml and MOPT's website. Tenants with questions about the Hardship Declaration or who need help filling out the form should contact our language accessible Tenant Helpline by calling 311 and saying, "Tenant Helpline."

City Agency Service Update:

See more about: Agency Suspensions and Reductions