COVID-19 Information and Resource Guide for District 20 

Our office will continually update this document as we address the 

outbreak of the novel coronavirus.   

At any time, text COVID to 692-692 to receive daily updates from the city 
or call the state’s dedicated hotline at 1-888-364-3065.  

To reach our team, call 718-284-4700 or email M

​ yrie@nysenate.gov​ during 
our usual hours, Mondays through Thursdays from 10AM to 6PM and 
Fridays from 10AM to 3PM. 

TABLE OF CONTENTS  

(CLICK THE HEADINGS TO JUMP AHEAD) 

BASIC INFO ON NOVEL CORONAVIRUS 2 

NEWS AND UPDATES 3 

OUR DISTRICT OFFICE IS CLOSED 3 

CURRENT CASES 3 

SCHOOLS AND UNIVERSITIES ARE CLOSED - MEALS BEING PROVIDED 3 

 
  

THE CITY IS PREPARING REGIONAL ENHANCEMENT CENTERS 4 

CLOSURES AND OTHER STATE MEASURES TO REDUCE RISK OF 

TRANSMISSION 4 

MTA AND TRANSPORTATION 4 

COURT SHUTDOWNS 5 

NYCHA 5 

VISITS TO CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES 5 

HOSPITALS, NURSING HOMES AND SENIOR CENTERS 5 

HOW TO STOP THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS 6 

ALBANY & ELECTION UPDATES 6 

LIMITING ATTENDANCE AT HOUSES OF WORSHIP 6 

RESOURCES FOR CONSTITUENTS 7 

CONCERNS ABOUT HEALTHCARE COSTS 7 

HOUSING / TENANT ISSUES 7 

FOOD & SUPPLIES 7 

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE 8 

EMERGENCY LOANS 8 

UTILITY BILLS 8 

SMALL BUSINESSES 8 

MENTAL HEALTH 9 

WHAT TO DO IF… 9 

YOU FEEL SICK 9 

YOU WITNESS PRICE GOUGING 10 

YOU HAVE GENERAL QUESTIONS ABOUT COVID-19 10 

 
  

BASIC INFO ON NOVEL CORONAVIRUS  

The CDC states that “a novel coronavirus is a new coronavirus that has not 
been previously identified. The virus causing coronavirus disease 2019 
(COVID-19), is not the same as the coronaviruses that commonly circulate 
among humans and cause mild illness, like the common cold.”  

Coronavirus is spread the following ways:  

● Between people who are in close contact with one another (within 
about 6 feet) 
● Through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person 
coughs or sneezes 
● Contact with infected surfaces or objects. It may be possible that a 
person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has 
the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly 
their eyes.  

The common symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, shortness of 
breath, and muscle aches.  

NEWS AND UPDATES 

OUR DISTRICT OFFICE IS CLOSED 
As a reminder, our district office is now closed for in-person constituent 
services until further notice. We are still providing constituent services 
remotely via phone at 718-284-4700 and by email at ​Myrie@nysenate.gov​. 

CURRENT CASES 
● 3/16/2020: As of today, there are 463 New York City residents who 
have tested positive for the novel coronavirus. There are 950 cases 
statewide, which makes New York the most impacted state in the 
country.  
  

SCHOOLS AND UNIVERSITIES ARE CLOSED - MEALS BEING 

PROVIDED  
Effective today, NYC schools are closed. Students will begin remote 
distance learning on Monday, March 23 and can begin picking up 
equipment required for remote learning beginning on March 18th and 
19th.  

Grab and go meals will be provided to all students at EVERY SCHOOL for 
pick-up from 7:30 am to 1:00 pm. No matter what school your child goes 
to, go to the nearest school to pick up meals. You can find more 
information ​here​.   

Classes on SUNY and CUNY campuses have been cancelled from March 
12th – March 18th. Classes will be held through distance learning from 
March 19th through the end of the Spring semester.  

THE CITY IS PREPARING REGIONAL ENHANCEMENT 

CENTERS  
Effective Monday, March 23, the city will provide Regional Enrichment 
Centers for the children of first responders, healthcare workers, and our 
most vulnerable populations, with more details to follow.  

CLOSURES AND OTHER STATE MEASURES TO REDUCE RISK 

OF TRANSMISSION  
Effective at 8pm Monday, March 16, New York State, New Jersey, and 
Connecticut have issued directives to reduce any gatherings to 50 people 
or fewer, limit restaurants and bars to takeout and delivery only, and close 
all gyms, movie theaters, and casinos.  

In New York City, all of the following will be closed: bars with no food, 
clubs, movie theaters, smaller theaters, and concert venues.  
  

MTA AND TRANSPORTATION  

● The MTA is operating normally with enhanced service to clean and 
disinfect stations, trains, buses, and Access-a-ride. For more info, ​go 
here​.  

COURT SHUTDOWNS 
● As of Monday, March 16, the New York Unified Court system is 
postponing all non-essential functions of the courts until further 
notice. For more info, ​click here​.  

NYCHA 
● NYCHA is cleaning buildings and applying a deep-cleaning agent and 
a bio- and eco-friendly protective coating that kills germs before it 
attaches to the surface on a 30-day schedule.  
● NYCHA is postponing in-person public meetings and events at 
NYCHA offices and developments for 30 days.  

VISITS TO CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES 

● As of 5 p.m. Saturday, March 14, visitation at correctional facilities is 
suspended until April 11th. Incarcerated people will be provided 
additional stamps for letter writing, and the number of calls and 
access to electronic messaging will increase. 

HOSPITALS, NURSING HOMES AND SENIOR CENTERS   

● Hospitals may be asked to cancel all elective surgeries and the 
governor has lifted regulations on hospitals so that they can 
maximize the use of their space.  
● Senior centers closed for all activity other than grab-and-go meals.  
● The State has directed nursing homes to prohibit non-medical visits 
at nursing homes and long term care facilities until further notice. If 
you have a family member at a nursing home, you can inquire about 
the possibility of setting up a Skype or other type of virtual visit. Staff 
  

will be screened and will be required to wear face masks to help 

prevent any spread of the virus. 

HOW TO STOP THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS  

● Wash your hands thoroughly and often.  
● Cough into your sleeve or shoulder, NOT your hands.  
● Never touch your face without clean hands. 
● Practice “social distancing” -- do not visit with others or attend 
gatherings unless absolutely necessary.   

ALBANY & ELECTION UPDATES 

● The State Legislature passed a bill allocating $40 million to fund 
response efforts to the coronavirus, which will allow the State to hire 
additional staff and obtain necessary equipment and resources. 
● Governor Cuomo signed an executive order allowing New Yorkers to 
vote absentee for the Queens Borough President special election on 
3/24; however, Mayor de Blasio has announced that that election 
will be postponed. The order also extends the deadline to apply to 
vote absentee to 3/23. Previously, only people who are ill or out of 
the country could vote absentee. 
● Governor Cuomo signed an executive order to reduce the number 
of petition Signatures to 30 percent of the normal requirement. The 
petitioning period will end at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday 3/17. 

LIMITING ATTENDANCE AT HOUSES OF WORSHIP  

● The city has directed houses of worship with 500 or more gatherers 
to use online streaming of worship service or staggered service to 
increase the amount of services and lower the amount of attendees 
per service. 

 
  

RESOURCES FOR CONSTITUENTS  

 

CONCERNS ABOUT HEALTHCARE COSTS  

● Governor Cuomo has directed health insurers to waive cost sharing 
associated with testing for coronavirus, including emergency room, 
urgent care and office visits.  
● Medicare has also been directed to Waive cost-sharing for testing, 
cost-sharing for coronavirus treatment in doctor’s offices or 
emergency rooms and services delivered via telehealth; remove 
prior authorization requirements; waive prescription refill limits; 
relax restrictions on home or mail delivery of prescription drugs; 
and expand access to certain telehealth services.  

HOUSING / TENANT ISSUES  

● New York State is placing a moratorium on housing evictions 
indefinitely. 
● If you're having an issue with your landlord, call the Met Council’s 
tenant support hotline at 212-979-0611. Monday & Wednesday, 
1:30-8pm; Tues 5:30-8pm; Fri 1:30-5pm. Available in Spanish.  

FOOD & SUPPLIES  

● East Flatbush Church of God. 409 E 95th St, Brooklyn, NY 11212. 
(718) 385-1043.  
● Click ​here​ for info on the city’s emergency food services.  

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE 
● The 7-day waiting period to obtain unemployment insurance will be 
waived for people who are laid off due to economic impacts of the 
coronavirus. 
  

EMERGENCY LOANS 
● The city’s Coronavirus Financial Impact Loan Program provides 
interest-free loans of $2,000-$5,000 to residents of NYC who are 
facing financial challenges caused by the Coronavirus outbreak. 
More info here​.  

UTILITY BILLS  
● The Department of Public Service will suspend utilities from cutting 
off service as a result of the coronavirus.  
● National Grid is temporarily suspending collection related activities 
including disconnections. These policies are effective immediately 
and will be in place through the end of April. Visit 
ngrid.com/covid-19​ for the latest.  
● Con Ed has temporarily suspended service shut offs involving 
customers having payment difficulties. Most customers can arrange 
for payment extensions and agreements online through My 
Account. If you have an appointment, please notify them at 
1-800-75-CONED (1-800-752-6633). 

SMALL BUSINESSES 
● The NYC Department of Small Business (SBS) is offering zero-interest 
loans up to $75,000 for businesses with fewer than 100 employees 
that have experienced at least a 25% decrease in revenue due to 
coronavirus. Additionally, the City is offering to cover up to 40% of 
payroll costs for two months for businesses with fewer than 5 
employees to help retain employees. For more info and to apply, 
click here​.  
● Beginning 3/17, small businesses will be able to apply online for an 
employee retention grant. For more info and to apply, ​click here​.  
● The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering up to $2 million in 
Disaster Assistance Loans to small businesses negatively affected by 
  

coronavirus. For more info, call 1-800-659-2955 (TTY: 

1-800-877-8339) or e-mail disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. 
● The New York State Department of Labor is waiving the 7-day wait 
period for those laid off due to coronavirus closures or quarantines. 
For more information, ​click here​. 

MENTAL HEALTH 
● NYC Well offers free confidential counseling in more than 200 
languages: ​https://nycwell.cityofnewyork.us/en/ 

WHAT TO DO IF… 
YOU FEEL SICK  
Before you do anything else, call your doctor or local health clinic to 
determine your next steps. New York State has ordered the elimination of 
all co-pays for telehealth consultations. If you don’t have a primary care 
doctor, call the state hotline at 1-888-364-3065 or 311 for more help.  

It is critical that you do this before you go to any doctor’s office, Urgent 
Care, or the ER. It will help manage the patient load at our healthcare 
facilities and keep all of us safer by reducing the risk of spreading the 
virus.  

For more info on evaluating any symptoms you may have, r​ ead this 
article​.  

 
  

YOU WITNESS PRICE GOUGING  

New Yorkers are urged to call 1-800-697-1220 to report unfair price 
increases of products such as household cleaning supplies and hand 
sanitizer amid the coronavirus outbreak. 

YOU HAVE GENERAL QUESTIONS ABOUT COVID-19 

Call the state hotline at 1-888-364-3065 or 311.