Jackson Heights Life

Something to consider: (copied from another forum)

If you have a job that will continue to pay you while you telework or stay home during the COVID-19 outbreak....AND you employ/hire people who do not have such benefits - i.e. a person who walks your dog, cleans your home or tends your yard, provides regular therapeutic massage, has a home hairdressing/braiding business that you patronize regularly - please consider reaching out to these persons and make it clear you will continue to pay them if they are sick or simply want to protect themselves by not coming to your home or their workplace.

If we all do this it will: a) be kind and respectful to other workers who do not enjoy the benefits we all should have: and b) help prevent the spread of COVID-19. A 2012 study of people affected by the 2009-10 H1N1 pandemic in the U.S. estimated that lack of sick leave (and people then going to work because they had to) was responsible for  5 million additional influenza like illnesses in the U.S. population. (Kumar et al., AJPH 102:1, https://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/abs/10.2105/AJPH.2011.300307).

  The storyline where they close the schools and then all of the parents who are health care professionals have to stay home with kids or leave them with older grandparents is a very real worse case scenario. Am trying to mitigate what I can here but our supermarkets are in a state of panic right at this hour. We can't all work from home but are taking the precautions we can. Has anyone heard about using bacitracin on a q-tip around your nostrils as protection? Just heard that one...

abcdefghijk:  A few days ago, I read in the NY Post that a Chinese Official said that a vaccine could be available as soon as next month (April).   I have to believe that Chinese Scientist are working non stop to develop this vaccine.   

1. er...New York Post.

2. I suppose the scientific checks are less stringent in China than in the West and so it might be released quicker there.

abcdefghi:  I read about it in the NY Post but it was in many other publications.  I agree that China will not wait for 8 months of testing before its released. 

Restrictions and closures are starting to be announced. No gatherings of 500 or more, and some institutions are closing like Met Museum, Met Opera, NY Philharmonic, etc.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/12/arts/design/met-museum-opera-carnegie-hall-close-coronavirus.html

I am 33, healthy, and 4 months pregnant. I am EXTREMELY concerned. I am also Italian, and what is going in Italy right now should have everyone feeling alarmed.

My family and friends are fine, but the health care system is not. My cousin is a doctor whose hospital is so overrun with the sick from COVID, they have to use their "moral judgment" and choose who to use their resources on, based on who is most likely to survive. I cannot fathom having to make such a decision, nor be in this situation. Also, the information that this disease does not effect younger people is false, as his youngest effected patient is 19. Granted, Italy was not prepared, but then, neither are we. I hope the US takes a lesson from whats going on in Italy, because this is where we will be in a matter of weeks. I sincerely pray that is not the case, but since testing is barely available, the numbers of infected and deaths are completely incorrect. Its much worse than they are reporting. I don't even want to think about the real numbers we have in NYC..

I am not able to work from home just yet (although technically all I need is an internet connection ) but since I am pregnant, I may ask for some kind of leave, or leeway. Right now I am taking an uber to work in the morning, and the train back home, since my office is in Astoria, but am wondering if I should just uber both ways?

I'd also like to keep supporting my favorite local businesses (letys bakery, farine, samudra, etc.) without physically going. Any suggestions, besides delivery?

Take care of yourselves out there, and please, stop stockpiling toilet paper. It literally makes 0 sense to hoard 100 rolls of toilet paper!!

Here are the Latest Updates Regarding the City and State’s Response to COVID 19:

-New York State now has 950 confirmed COVID-19 cases; 463 confirmed cases in New York City.

-Until further notice, we will be canceling all of our scheduled community events, such as paper shredding events, community book tables, and electronic recycling events. Specifically, we will be canceling this weekend's paper shredding event scheduled at Gorman Playground and our biweekly legal night will be postponed until further notice. Additionally, our office will not be admitting any constituents for face-to-face meetings, but will still be operating and answering telephone calls. Please take the proper precautions to protect yourself and your family, and if you have any questions or concerns, please call our office at (718) 457-0384 or email at dendekkerm@nyassembly.gov.

-New York City has Closed All Public School Buildings and will transition to Remote Learning; they are currently scheduled to reopen April 20th.

-Grab-and-Go breakfast and lunch will be available at the entrance of every school building from 7:30 am-1:30 pm. Any student can pick up breakfast and lunch at any school building beginning March 17 and until further notice.

-By order of Governor Cuomo, beginning at 8 p.m. Monday, March 16th restaurants and bars in New York will close for on premise service and move to take-out services only. Additionally, theaters, gyms and casinos will be temporarily closed beginning March 16th at 8 p.m. 

-All Queens Public Library locations are temporarily closing to the public beginning on Monday, March 15 until further notice.

-The MTA is continuing their enhanced sanitizing procedures across the system.
National Grid has temporarily suspended collections-related activities, including service disconnections, to lessen any financial hardship the COVID-19 pandemic may cause.

-As of Monday, March 16, Queens Community House will begin scaling back and/or temporarily suspending several of its programs, including the Beacon program at P.S. 149.

-On Monday, March 23, NYC will be opening several dozen Regional Enrichment Centers across the City, to serve the children of our City’s first responders, healthcare workers, transit workers, and our most vulnerable populations.

The Federal government has declared a national state of emergency and will release up to $50 billion in aid to states hit worst-hit by COVID-19.

-New York State will waive the 7-day waiting period for unemployment benefits for those laid off due to the virus.

-New York State’s chief administrative judge has indefinitely suspended eviction proceedings in housing court throughout the state amid the novel coronavirus outbreak. The measure takes effect March 16 at 5 p.m.

-Starting March 16th at 8 p.m. crowd capacity for social and recreational gatherings will be limited to 50 people in New York State.

-SUNY and CUNY campuses will move to distance-based learning with all in-person classes cancelled beginning on Wednesday, March 19th. Students facing hardship(s) will be allowed to remain in dormitories through contacting their individual university/college campus administration.

-Primary care providers and practices should call (518) 447-4580 to request a test from the NYSDOH - New York State Health Department.

-Visitation to Nursing Homes AND Senior Assisted Living Facilities is prohibited, excluding necessary medical personnel and individual visitors who dress in full, protective-garb. Please check with your individual facility if you have any questions.

-Next week, the state Legislature will vote on a Paid Sick Leave proposal for most private-sector employees in New York State. The state will guarantee two full weeks of paid leave for all state workers who are subject to a mandatory or precautionary order of quarantine as a result of the novel coronavirus. Stay home if you are sick.

-New Yorkers can text COVID to 692-692 to get regular updates on the latest developments regarding COVID-19; Text COVIDESP to 692-692 for updates in Spanish

-Are you experiencing all symptoms of COVID19? Call ahead to your doctor to discuss your symptoms, let them guide you in the right direction, and/or call NYS DOH at 1-888-364-3065.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Preparedness and Information
-Center for Disease Control (CDC) COVID-19 website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/
NYS Department of Health (NYSDOH) COVID-19 website: https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/coronavirus/
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the NYSDOH recommends that individuals should follow these guidelines to prevent the spread of the virus:
1. Wash your hands regularly, 2. cover your cough or sneeze, 3. avoid touching your face, 4. avoid close contact with others and large public gatherings if possible, and 5. stay home if you are sick. Individuals who are experiencing symptoms and may have traveled to areas of concern or have been in contact with somebody who has traveled to these areas should call ahead to their health care provider before seeking treatment in person. Even if you have not been in contact with an infected person or an affected area, but are experiencing all symptoms of COVID-19, you should call NYSDOH at 1-888-364-3065 to receive guidance on what to do and how to self-quarantine.

Thanks for posting this. Very thorough. I received it in email form, but couldn't capture it to post here.
I guess early voting is off due to library closures.