April 21, 2020 By Michael Dorgan Nursing home providers will soon be required to notify the families of patients within 12 hours if a staff member or a resident at a home tests positive or dies from COVID-19. The announcement made by the Trump administration on Sunday follows calls from Congresswoman Grace Meng urging the… Read more »
April 21, 2020 Staff Report A number of real estate firms have come together to fund hot meals that are being distributed to health care workers and western Queens residents in need. The group, which consists of 20 real estate companies, has launched the “Real Estate Has Your Back” campaign and has paid for 3,000… Read more »
April 21, 2020 By Allie Griffin New York City will honor the healthcare workers and first responders fighting the coronavirus with a ticker-tape parade once the pandemic is defeated, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced today. “When that day comes that we can restart the vibrant, beautiful life of this city again, the first thing we… Read more »
April 21, 2020 By Allie Griffin A Long Island City-based company is producing 3,000 “bridge” ventilators for New York City hospitals, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced today. Boyce Technologies, a high-tech engineering manufacturer located at 47-22 Pearson Pl., is producing the machines that are being used to treat patients with less severe respiratory symptoms. Critically… Read more »
April 21, 2020 By Michael Dorgan Trader Joe’s has confirmed that five of its staff at the Rego Park store have tested positive for COVID-19 – just weeks after a worker there raised concerns that the company was not doing enough to keep its staff and customers safe in the face of the pandemic. The… Read more »
April 20, 2020 By Allie Griffin Two Queens lawmakers are demanding that essential workers receive hazard pay for their work during the coronavirus pandemic. Assembly Member Aravella Simotas and State Sen. Jessica Ramos sent a letter to Governor Andrew Cuomo and other state leaders on April 14 urging them to use a portion of the… Read more »
April 20, 2020 By Christian Murray The Queens Public Library and Queens College have come together to document people’s experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic–and are calling on residents to share their stories. Queens Memory, a community archiving program supported by the Queens Library and Queens College, has launched the COVID-19 Project that aims to create… Read more »
April 20, 2020 By Michael Dorgan Queens elected officials and local religious figures from various faiths are coming together to host a virtual vigil Tuesday to honor residents who have died due to COVID-19 and the borough’s frontline and essential workers battling the pandemic. The Queens Virtual Interfaith Vigil will be hosted by Acting Queens… Read more »
April 20, 2020 By Allie Griffin Three Queens Council Members have called on the governor to close New York City’s mass transit system for at least a week, only to have the suggestion quickly shot down by the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA). Council Member Robert Holden penned a letter to Governor Andrew Cuomo and MTA… Read more »
April 20, 2020 By Michael Dorgan Council Member Costa Constantinides has applauded Governor Andrew Cuomo’s decision to suspend the requirement that couples seeking a marriage license must go to the clerk’s office in person. Cuomo signed an executive order Saturday that allows couples to access marriage licenses remotely, with clerks able to perform ceremonies over… Read more »