Below you will find the latest COVID-19 information and resources from Legislator Jason A. Richberg.
For more information on COVID-19
· Suffolk County- https://suffolkcountyny.gov/covid19
· Suffolk County Department of Health Services - https://suffolkcountyny.gov/Departments/Health-Services/Health-Bulletins/Novel-Coronavirus
· New York State Department of Health - https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/home
· Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - https://www.cdc.gov/
· NYS Coronavirus Hotline - 888-364-3065
How long the virus can live on various surfaces:
· Plastic and Stainless Steel - Up to 72 hours
· Cardboard - Up to 24 hours
· Copper and similar materials - Up to 4 hours
· Droplets can stay in the air for up to 3 hours before they fall.
CARES Act:
Every
American earning $75,000* or less per year will receive $1200. (*Adjusted
annual gross income) Checks expected to go out in the coming weeks.
Small Business Loans:
The SBA and US Chamber of Commerce has info and assistance on their websites.
Unemployment:
Unemployment Insurance is extended; 1 week waiting period is waived; and now includes gig workers and those who are issued 1099s.
Gov Cuomo announced this week that all New Yorkers who file for unemployment will receive an extra $600 on top of their unemployment checks and federal stimulus money.
Mental
Health, coping with Stress and Anxiety
NYS
offers a free consultation with a mental health professional: 844-863-9314
CDC offers tips and resources for stress management: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/managing-stress-anxiety.html
Governor Andrew Cuomo has announced that New York State has teamed up with the meditation app Headspace to offer free content for those grappling with anxiety surrounding the Coronavirus pandemic. For more information, visit www.headspace.com/ny
Price gouging:
To
report unfair price increases of products including household cleaning
supplies and hand sanitizer amid the coronavirus outbreak.
NY
Department of State, Division of Consumer Protection at 1-800-697-1220
Suffolk County Department of Consumer Affairs: 631-853-4600, https://suffolkcountyny.gov/Departments/Consumer-Affairs
Support
and Donations for Healthcare Workers:
To
donate PPE,
personal protective equipment:
Suffolk County Fire, Rescue & Emergency Services: 631-853-4866 or supply19@suffolkcountyny.gov
Support
Local Businesses:
Our small businesses are struggling due to government directed closure of non-essential businesses. The Town of Babylon has posted a list of restaurants offering take-out and delivery to help them keep from closing their doors: https://www.townofbabylon.com/DocumentCenter/View/4248/Restaurant-List-TOB
Support
for Domestic Violence Victims:
Report
Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault 24-hr Hotline: 631-360-3606
Domestic
violence victims support hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE/ 7233
Suffolk County Courts are still accessible via video and telephone for interviews, filing a petition, speaking to a judge and filing orders of protection.
Unsafe
work environment: For Employees to anonymously report unsafe work environment:
NYS
Dept. of Labor: 888-469-7365, calls may remain confidential.
Veteran
Assistance:
Wyandanch
VFW Post 361 Commander Norm Sellers:631-383-2658
Wheatley
Heights VFW Post 2912, Commander Jorge Rosario 631-358-8279
Suffolk
County Veterans Service Agency 631-853-VETS
Video/Audio
Conferencing Apps:
Audio: Freeconferencecall.com, Video: Zoom, Skype. Tutorials can be found on YouTube.
How to make your own facial covering:
To help slow the spread of COVID-19 and keep our communities safe, Governor Andrew Cuomo has issued an executive order requiring any individual who is over age two and able to medically tolerate a face-covering to cover their nose and mouth with a mask or cloth face-covering when in a public place and unable to maintain social distance.
Some residents have reported difficulty finding masks due to long shipping delays and limited supplies. To make your own mask using a T-shirt, follow these easy instructions:
Trace the pattern of the mask, as in the illustration. The bottom line should be just beneath the armpits of the shirt.
Cut through both layers of the shirt, according to the pattern.
Use a safety pin to fasten the two layers together at the bottom.
Insert a paper towel or a coffee filter between the layers of cloth as an extra filter. It should rest on the safety pin.
To wear the mask, tie the top straps around your head; tie the bottom straps at the top of your head, as in the illustration.
T-shirt masks are not a substitute for professionally manufactured surgical masks, but they do offer some protection, especially against infecting others.
