Here are the Latest Updates Regarding the City and State’s Response to COVID-19 from the Office of Assembly Member Mike DenDekker as of 4/21/2020:
-As of 10 PM last night, New York State now has 247,512 confirmed COVID-19 cases; 136,806 confirmed cases in New York City.
-New York State on PAUSE is extended through 5/15.
All non-essential events, such as parades, concerts, and rallies, are cancelled through the end of June in New York City.
-The IRS launched a new web tool allowing quick registration for Economic Impact Payments for those who don’t normally file a tax return. The non-filer tool provides a free and easy option designed for people who don’t have a return filing obligation, including those with too little income to file. The feature is available only on IRS.gov, and users should look for Non-filers: Enter Payment Info Here to take them directly to the tool, or go to
http://www.irs.gov/nonfilereip-The New York State Department of Labor announced the launch of a new application for New Yorkers to apply for traditional Unemployment Insurance or the new COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Assistance. This one-stop-shop for unemployment benefits will connect New Yorkers with the benefits they deserve faster, without requiring them to call the Department of Labor:
https://my.ny.gov/LoginV4/login.xhtml-If you need assistance with your unemployment application, please contact our office and we will be happy to assist.
-All New Yorkers will now be able to vote by mail in the June 23rd elections.
-An urgent care center on Northern Boulevard between 80th Street and 81st Street is administering COVID-19 tests BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. To schedule a test, go to
https://www.statcarewalkin.com/covid-19-testing-near-me-jackson-heights-11372-ny-coronavirus-cost-test-available/-If you see overcrowding at any public place, including parks (if people are too close together or playing team sports) or supermarkets, call 311 and call our office. You can also take a photo of the people not practicing safe social distancing and text the photo to 311-692.
-If you live in New York City and you have DACA, call ActionNYC at 1-800-354-0365 for help renewing your application. They may even be able to help you out with the renewal fee.
-The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene issued guidance stating that N95 masks and other kinds of PPE equipment should be reserved for use in a health care setting. Anyone not in a health care setting should use a regular face covering.
-If you are not calling 311 to be connected to a COVID-19 related resource, or with an urgent request, please submit a service request online by visiting NYC.gov/311 or by using the 311 app. Or, if you cannot submit a request online, consider calling after 7PM or during weekend hours.
Food Issues
-All Farmers Markets will remain open.
-The Department of Education is now offering additional meals for adults at the 440 sites they are currently serving students free meals throughout the day. Folks can pick up 3 meals at a time from 7:30am - 1:30pm; from 7:30 AM to 11:30 AM, children/families will be served, and from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM, adults will be served. Locations can found on the DOE website or texting NYC Food or NYC comida to 877-877 to answer any questions you may have.
-Here is a map of all Grab and Go meal locations and food pantries in the city:
https://dsny.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=35901167a9d84fb0a2e0672d344f176f Hover your cursor for the dots for additional details
-For homebound seniors, you can apply to have meals delivered for you by calling 311 or going to
https://cv19engagementportal.cityofnewyork.us/#/display/5e7555117ad6750216160409-New York City is going to be doubling capacity to enroll more seniors in the program starting next week and again using senior centers to help distribute food
-New Yorkers can use their SNAP benefits to order online. For more info head to: www1.nyc.gov/site/hra/help/snap-online-shopping.page
School/Child Care
-NYC Kids Rising is having a draw to select parents of kindergarten, 1st Grade, and 2nd Grade parents in Community Education Council District 30 to win $150 gift cards to cover emergency expenses. More info here:
https://nyckidsrise.org/emergency-relief-giftcards-faq/-WNET/WLIW-21 is providing a host of classroom resources for teachers. For more info go to
https://ny.pbslearningmedia.org-NYC has opened 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. Here is a list of centers in our area:
PS/IS 128 - 69-10 65th Drive 11379
P.S. 19 - QUEENS - 98-02 ROOSEVELT AVENUE 11368
ELMHURST EDUCATIONAL CAMPUS - Q 45-10 94TH STREET 11373
Mosaic Pre-K Center at 44-15 Judge Street 44-15 Judge Street 11373
LONG ISLAND CITY HS(NEW)-Q 14-30 BROADWAY 11106
P.S. 11 - QUEENS 54-25 SKILLMAN AVENUE 11377
District 30 Pre-K Center at 3252 37th Street
-The Regional Enrichment Centers also serve grocery and pharmacy workers.
-The New York City Department of Education wants every student who needs a device for remote learning to have one, even if the student does not have internet access at home. Simply call 718-935-5100 and choose Option 5 on the menu. Someone will help you get a device with internet connection. You can also fill out this form:
https://coronavirus.schools.nyc/RemoteLearningDevices-All Queens Public Library locations may be closed, but many free digital resources are available online at
https://www.queenslibrary.org/about-us/news-media/blog/2041?utm_source=oracle&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=digitalresources2020_BLG-Please don't forget to fill out the Census at
https://2020census.govJobs/Small Business
-If your business needs help with a lease, free legal assistance can be obtained from the Commercial Lease Assistance Program. Go to this website for more details:
https://www1.nyc.gov/nycbusiness/article/commercial-lease-assistance-program-The City Bar Justice Center is providing pro bono legal consultations for businesses trying to access federal, state, and local business assistance programs. Go to
https://www.citybarjusticecenter.org/covid-19-small-business-remote-legal-clinic/ for more info.
-The federal government has announced that the Paycheck Protection Program has run out of money. Our office is trying to get more information on resources. In the interim, call the New York Small Business Development Center at LaGuardia College at (718) 482-5303.
-CAMBA, a human services organization that provides services to the homeless, is hiring for positions to support their shelter programs, including Maintenance Workers, all locations and shifts;Security Guards, all locations and shifts; Shift Supervisors (including per diem opportunities), all locations and shifts; Residential Aides, all locations and shifts; and Social Workers (LMSW and LCSW), all locations and shifts. Prospective employees should email their resume to
submitresumes@camba.org.
-The Taxi and Limousine Commission is recruiting for TLC-licensed drivers to help with important work related to COVID-19, such as delivering food to older adults who can’t leave their homes. This work will be paid $15/hour plus reimbursement for gas and tolls. Drivers will be selected on a first-come, first-serve basis: cv19engagementportal.cityofnewyork.us/#/display/5e7634997ad67502161607c2
-The Small Business Administration is offering the opportunity to apply for disaster loans: disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/Account/Login?ReturnUrl=%2Fela%2FLoanApplication%2FStartApplication
-Due to COVID-19, all Council for Airport Opportunity Career Centers are closed until further notice. CAO will be temporarily accepting online registration from our NY & NJ community. All in-person orientations and pre-screenings are now conducted over the phone. Participants, who are interested in our services are invited to register using one of the following methods. 1.) You may register at
www.caonynj.com 2.) By applying on CAO Ziprecruiter postings. 3.) Or submit your resume at
career@caony.com. Please include the position title and airport preference in the subject field. Our Account Managers will contact you using the information you provided and complete your registration.
-NYC's Workforce One website is operational for job seekers:
https://access.nyc.gov/programs/workforce-1/-In response to the COVID-19 state of emergency in NYC, the NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection’s Office of Financial Empowerment has transitioned all of our financial counseling and coaching programs to offer services remotely:
http://nyc.gov/talkmoneyAdvisories from State/Local/Federal Agencies/Utilities
-The organization Sanctuary for Families is still providing assistance to survivors of domestic violence; they can still secure orders of protection. You can call their legal helpline at (212) 349-6009 or visit
http://sanctuaryforfamilies.org/get-help-Housing Court will not have any new HP filings except those that are considered emergencies. Emergencies consist of no running water, a non-functioning toilet; no gas is under consideration for being thought of as an emergency.
-The City is providing assistance for burials:
https://www1.nyc.gov/site/hra/help/burial-assistance.page-The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) has issued guidance on applying for the $75 million it was allocated in the CARES Act. If a nonprofit cultural organization has received NEA support in the last four fiscal years, they are eligible to apply for a direct grant. Apply by April 22!
https://www.arts.gov/grants/apply-grant/grants-organizations-Here is the Department of Finance's new FAQ page re SCRIE/DRIE during the pandemic:
https://www1.nyc.gov/site/rentfreeze/help/covid-19-frequently-asked-questions.page-The Parks Department closed all our playgrounds and is also removing all nets and hoops.
-The MTA has announced that Rear-Door Boarding has gone into effect on local & Select Bus Service. Customers will board and exit all local and Select Bus Service (SBS) buses using the rear doors. Express bus customers will board as normal, but will not be permitted to sit in the first three rows of the bus to ensure customers are a safe social distance from bus operators. ADA customers will still be permitted to board at the front of all local and SBS buses, and board as usual on express buses. Regular fare policy remains in effect wherever on-board payment boxes or SBS off-board ticket machines continue to be accessible.
-US Citizenship and Immigration Services has clarified that seeking or using medical treatment or preventive healthcare services related to COVID-19 will NOT be considered under the Public Charge rule, even if the services are Medicaid-funded. Seek care without fear.
-USCIS also announced that it is adopting measures to minimize the immigration consequences associated with responding to requests for evidence (RFEs) and notices of intent to deny (NOIDs) dated between March 1 and May 1, 2020
-Requests for Evidence and Notices of Intent to Deny: For applicants and petitioners who receive an RFE or NOID dated between March 1 and May 1, 2020, any responses submitted within 60 calendar days after the response deadline set forth in the RFE or NOID will be considered by USCIS before any action is taken.
USCIS will provide further updates as the situation develops and will continue to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s guidance. Please visit uscis.gov/coronavirus for the latest facts and other USCIS updates.
-Spectrum is offering free internet for 60 days to college students and households with K-12 students that currently do not have internet. In addition, people behind on their Spectrum bill can get their internet service restored. Call (833) 267-6094 for more details.
-National Grid has temporarily suspended collections-related activities, including service disconnections, to lessen any financial hardship the COVID-19 pandemic may cause. For customers struggling to make payments, there is a financial assistance program to ease the burden; speak to customer service. Currently all late fees are being waived.
-New York City’s Department of Finance announced it will waive penalties for DOF-administered business and excise taxes due this spring.
More Miscellaneous Health Info
-In order to fight the spread of COVID-19 within households that are in particularly high-risk communities, New York City is offering 11,000 free hotel rooms for people who need to quarantine. Hotel rooms will be offered based on referrals from NYC Health + Hospitals and community health providers, beginning on Wednesday. These will be targeted in particular to people in overcrowded homes, health care workers regardless of symptoms, and New Yorkers experiencing homelessness.
-Here is a COVID-19 resource guide for people with disabilities:
https://www1.nyc.gov/site/mopd/resources/covid-19-resources-for-people-with-disabilities.page-The City has announced a free new digital platform to provide safe, fun, and entertaining virtual activities for New York City’s teens and young adults. This first-of-its-kind campaign combines city and community resources to engage teens who are at home during the COVID-19 crisis, and also provides tips to cope with the public and mental health challenges that may arise during this difficult time. Fun at Home can be accessed at nyc.gov/funathome or texting “Fun” to 97743 to receive the latest updates on resources and activities.
-Commonpoint Queens is offering free virtual mental health counseling and other services to help Queens residents cope with the coronavirus crisis:
https://www.commonpointqueens.org/covid19/-New Yorkers can call the state's mental health hotline at 1-844-863-9314 to schedule a free appointment.
-If you are a healthcare professional that would like to volunteer, you have medical supplies you would like to donate, or you require any sort of COVID-19-related assistance, please go to the HelpNYC website:
https://www1.nyc.gov/site/helpnownyc/index.page.
-Governor Cuomo is asking all New Yorkers who have recovered from COVID-19 to contact the state and donate blood. Individuals who have recovered from the virus may have convalescent plasma in their blood, which has antibodies against the virus and could help with the development of a treatment for the virus. More information about how to donate is available here:
https://nybc.org/donate-blood/convalescent-plasma-covid-19-donor-request-form/-I’ve been affected by Coronavirus (COVID-19). What are some of the benefits I may be eligible for?
https://access.nyc.gov/coronavirus-covid-19-updates/#section-2