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Dear Friends,

In the midst of holiday celebrations, this week we are confronted with a stark reminder that we are still fighting a public health crisis as the number of COVID cases has increased significantly in the last few days. We know all too well what’s at stake, so we must remember to keep doing what we know works: get vaccinated, get your booster shot, wear face coverings in all indoor public settings, avoid crowded settings if you have health risks, and, if you’re sick, get tested and stay home. More tips for a safer holiday season are available from the NYC Department of Health.

COVID-19 UPDATES

Key to NYC

Under the Key to NYC Program, proof of vaccination is required for indoor dining, indoor fitness, and indoor entertainment and certain meeting spaces. The City expanded requirements for proof of COVID-19 vaccination for children as follows:

• As of December 14, children ages 5 to 11 are required to have proof of vaccination for the public indoor activities covered under Key to NYC. They must show they have received at least one dose of a vaccine.

• Starting December 27, people 12 and older participating in public indoor activities covered under Key to NYC will be required to show proof they have received two vaccine doses, except for those who have received the one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

Please read the revised Guidance for Public Accommodations on Equitable Implementation of COVID-19 Vaccine Requirements and Emergency Executive Order 317 for more information.

Note: The NYC COVID Safe app has been updated to allow parents to upload their children’s vaccination information on the same account. Parents and legal guardians may retrieve and store Excelsior Passes on behalf of children or minors under legal guardianship.

New Vaccine Requirement for Private Sector Businesses

Starting December 27, employees who work in-person at private sector businesses must have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and employers must check for proof. For more information, please visit the NYC Health Department’s webpage and read the summary of the requirements in the flyer for business owners. The following are important links:

• What if a worker says their religion or a medical condition prevents them from getting vaccinated? Read the Guidance and a Checklist for Accommodations for Workers

• Do I have to post something in my workplace? Yes. An employer must post this form in a conspicuous place in their workplace: Affirmation of Compliance with Workplace Vaccination Requirements (If you previously posted a notice per the “Key to NYC” requirements for restaurants, fitness centers, and entertainment venues, you do not need to post the additional form)

• What does the law say? Read the Order of the Commissioner of Health and Mental Hygiene to Require COVID-19 Vaccination in the Workplace (December 13, 2021)

• How can I avoid discriminating against an employee? Read the Guidance for Employers on Equitable Implementation of COVID-19 Vaccine Requirements

• Where can I find answers to my other questions? Read the Frequently Asked Questions

Non-Resident Performing Artists:

The Commissioner’s Order includes an exemption for non-City residents who are performing artists and individuals who are accompanying such performing artists who are exempt under the Key to NYC Program—such performing artists and individuals are not required to provide proof of vaccination under the Order of the Commissioner of Health and Mental Hygiene to Require COVID-19 Vaccination in the Workplace (December 13, 2021), but an employer may opt to require them to provide proof of vaccination to keep coworkers safe.

Mask Guidance

As of December 13, masks must be worn in all indoor public places unless the business or venue has implemented a requirement that all individuals be fully vaccinated, according to an order of the NYS Department of Health. “Fully vaccinated” means 14 days past an individual's last vaccination dose in their initial vaccine series (14 days past the second shot of a two-dose Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine; 14 days past the one-shot Janssen/Johnson & Johnson vaccine). The State also accepts WHO-approved vaccines for these purposes. Please refer to the State’s Frequently Asked Questions and posters for businesses for more information.

Businesses and venues may opt to require both masking and proof of vaccination. NYC Department of Health Commissioner Chokshi issued an advisory to strongly encourage all individuals, regardless of vaccination status, to wear a mask when indoors and in a public setting in New York City. The advisory applies to individuals over the age of two years who are able to medically tolerate wearing a mask. The advisory does not apply in cases where an individual is actively performing an activity that cannot be done while wearing a face covering such as actively eating or drinking or performing, including playing music, delivering a speech, and acting in a theater.

Remember: Masks are required on public transit and at indoor train stations, regardless of vaccination status. And New York State mandates universal mask requirements at NYS-regulated child care facilities, residential congregate programs, and certain other NYS-licensed or NYS-regulated facilities.

COVID-19 Vaccine Resources

As of December 16, 2021, 82.2% of New York City adult residents are fully vaccinated and over half of children 5 to 17 have received at least one COVID-19 vaccination dose.

It has never been easier to get a COVID-19 vaccination in NYC. People 5 and older are eligible for the vaccine. Note, people who are 5 to 17 years old can only receive the Pfizer vaccine. For more information, please read the FAQ about the vaccine and children.

The Vaccine Command Center offers resources and information on how to access vaccines by appointment and at walk-up sites, mobile units, and at home. You can find your nearest COVID-19 vaccine site online or call 844-VAX-4NYC.

COVID-19 vaccine booster shots are now available for all fully vaccinated people 18 and older, as well as 16 and 17 year olds who received the Pfizer vaccine. The NYC Department of Health recommends a booster shot for eligible individuals who received the second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine at least six months ago, or one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at least two months ago.

Your booster shot can be any of the three authorized or approved vaccines. If you are not sure whether to get a booster shot or which type of vaccine you should get for your booster, talk to your health care provider. Please read this FAQ about booster shot recommendations.

People who are moderately to severely immunocompromised are eligible for a third dose of the vaccine, as part of their initial vaccination series.

Reminder: Labor Law section 196-b allows employees to use sick leave for the recovery of any side effects of the COVID-19 vaccination and section 197-c allows leave to receive vaccinations.

Travel

Travel may involve crowds and going to places with high levels of COVID-19. The NYC Department of Health recommends avoiding travel if you are not fully vaccinated. Everyone who is traveling should get tested before they leave New York City and before they return home. Also, wear a mask, follow CDC travel guidance and stay at a hotel when possible.

In light of the Omicron coronavirus variant, the federal government is prohibiting entry of certain travelers into the United States, with some exceptions. As of December 6, all international air travelers (regardless of vaccination status) must provide a negative COVID-19 test taken within 1 day of arrival in the U.S. For guidance about traveling to the United States from a foreign country by airplane, refer to this helpful new flow-chart from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. For guidance about traveling to the United States from a foreign country by land or ferry, see the Department of Homeland Security’s guidance and FAQ. The CDC has announced plans to ease restrictions on international cruise travel starting January 16, 2022.

All travelers, domestic and international, should continue to follow all CDC travel requirements. More information about international travel requirements is available on the State Department’s website.

Airborne Infectious Disease Prevention Plan

New York State requires all employers to implement an Airborne Infectious Disease Prevention Plan. Employers can find the regulation with requirements for the plan and anti-retaliation requirements and templates for the plans in English and Spanish on the NYS Department of Labor website (under Resources, near the bottom of the webpage). This plan is different than the Key to NYC implementation plan, so be sure to review the NYS DOL guidance carefully.

RESOURCES

NYC Small Business Services

The NYC Department of Small Business Services has launched its $100M NYC Small Business Resilience grant program to provide immediate funding to small businesses in the arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation, and food sectors and in low to moderate income (LMI) communities to help them recover from the pandemic. The program is designed to reach the communities and sectors hardest hit by COVID. Eligible businesses can apply now to receive a $10,000 grant, which can be used for payroll and benefits, mortgage, rent, utilities, and other operating costs.

Businesses that would like to apply for the grant must:

• Have been in operation before October 1, 2019

• Demonstrate revenue loss between 2019 and 2020

• Not have received a federal grant from the Shuttered Venues Operators Grant program or the Restaurant Revitalization Fund.

Businesses can learn more about the NYC Small Business Resilience Grant at covidresilience.nyc.

NYC Business Quick Start provides small businesses a sole point of contact to help navigate City regulations, guarantees a 48-hour response to all small business inquiries and will cut processing time by 50 percent. The program is a collaboration between several key agencies including SBS, Department of Buildings (DOB), Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), and the New York City Fire Department (FDNY). For more information, visit the NYC Business Quick Start website or call 888-SBS-4NYC (888-727-4692).

Arts and Entertainment

MOME and the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs have partnered with the Mayor’s Office of Community Mental Health to offer mental health resources for creative workers, including a list of resources for performing arts professionals and a webinar on “Promoting Mental Health for Creative Workers” featuring a discussion on mental health resources for NYC creatives. A recording of the program is available on YouTube.

The New York State Council for the Arts (NYSCA) application portal for the Capital Funding for the Arts program is now open. Application Instructions, Guidelines and an FAQ for the Capital Funding for the Arts program are available on-line. Support in this round will assist organizations facing health and safety issues in their spaces and venues, among other needs. Facilities program and capital support will be available in this round. Any New York State nonprofit arts and culture organization is encouraged to apply. Applications are due January 14, 2022.

Media Production

Productions in NYC (and all other private employers) must follow the City’s new vaccination requirement starting on December 27. MOME will not require proof of compliance to receive a film permit, but film permittees are subject to inspection for compliance like any other business. To assist productions with promoting COVID-safe protocols on set, MOME has available for download production-specific educational posters. We will be updating the guidance on our film permit webpage in the coming days.

Note: The Film Office is currently closed to walk-in visitors. If you need assistance, please call (212) 489-6710.

Nightlife

Elevate Nightlife is a program of The Office of Nightlife, in partnership with the Mayor’s Office of Community Mental Health and Backline, to connect the nightlife community directly with mental health resources and services. As part of the Elevate Nightlife Mental Health Initiative, people who work in the nightlife industry in New York City can participate in a free and confidential weekly mental health support group moderated by a Backline Care licensed therapists, every Monday at 4pm.

NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) is conducting a public survey to inform the future design rules for the permanent Open Restaurants program. NYC DOT and the Department of City Planning will host a series of virtual roundtables that are open to the public, where any New Yorker can share their thoughts on the permanent Open Restaurants program. The first two will be:

• Tuesday, January 11, 2022, 12:00pm - 1:30pm

• Wednesday, January 12, 2022, 6:00pm - 7:30pm

Propane heaters are no longer allowed in Open Restaurants. Electric radiant heaters are allowed on both sidewalk and roadway. Natural gas radiant heaters are allowed on the sidewalk only.

STATE ASSISTANCE

Governor Hochul recently announced a statewide initiative to connect New York jobseekers to employment. A record 220,000 jobs are available in the New York State Job Bank in all regions of the state, including New York City. Information for jobseekers is available on the NYS Department of Labor website. In addition, the New York City Department of Small Business Services offers free services at Workforce1 Career Centers to prepare and help New Yorkers to find jobs.

On November 8, Governor Hochul announced a new recovery package and campaign called, “Bring Back Tourism, Bring Back Jobs.” This comprehensive strategy will support unemployed workers and struggling businesses in the critically important tourism and hospitality sector, which was New York's third-largest industry prior to the pandemic; incentivize the rehiring of these critical workers; and jumpstart demand for the State’s tourism and hospitality attractions. The package consists of the following programs:

• $100 million in one-time payments to support hardest-hit tourism workers: Under the Tourism Worker Recovery Fund, the State will issue one-time payments of $2,750 to as many as 36,000 qualified workers in tourism sector industries. New Yorkers who are eligible will be contacted directly from the State via text or email. More information is available on the New York State Department of Labor website.

• $100 million in grants to encourage tourism employers to rehire staff: Qualifying tourism businesses will be eligible for grants of up to $5,000 per net new full-time employee, or $2,500 per net new part-time employee, hired to offset their labor costs. More information, including a sign-up for program-related email alerts, is available on the Empire State Development (ESD) website. It is anticipated that arts and cultural organizations and entertainment businesses will qualify for program funding when ESD releases detailed eligibility criteria in the coming weeks.

• $25 million to attract convention center and hotel events; additional $25 million for global and domestic marketing efforts. For information about the NYS “Meet in New York” grant program, visit the ESD website.

On December 14, Governor Hochul announced $100 million in rent supplements for struggling New Yorkers. We will provide more information about how to apply when details are announced.

A moratorium on COVID-related residential and commercial evictions for New York State is in effect until January 15, 2022. Under the new law, all protections of the Tenant Safe Harbor Act for residential tenants who are suffering financial hardship as a result of the pandemic will remain in place, along with new protections on commercial evictions. You can read the new law on the New York State Senate’s website.

Note: There are additional eviction protections available to NYC Tenants. Up-to-date information and resources are available on NYC’s 311 portal and NYC Human Resources website for renters at risk of eviction or entering shelter.

The State will accept applications for the Homeowner Assistance Fund beginning Monday, January 3, 2022. The program will provide up to $539 million to help eligible homeowners avert mortgage delinquency, default, foreclosure, and displacement. Visit the State Homeowner Assistance Fund’s webpage to register for emails and find more information.

NYC homeowners at risk of being displaced from their communities can get help from the expanded Homeowner Help Desk. You can call 1-855-HOME-456 or stop by a Help Desk event. Support includes helping homeowners resolve housing challenges due to COVID-19, managing a home as a small landlord, understanding a home’s flood risk, and more.

FEDERAL ASSISTANCE

Eligible small businesses, nonprofits, sole proprietors and independent contractors can still apply for a COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Earlier this month, the SBA announced that it improved the EIDL program to better meet the needs of small businesses, especially those hardest hit industries and smallest entities that still need relief. Among other changes, the SBA has increased the amount of funding that can be borrowed from $500,000 to $2 million for qualified applicants. Learn more about EIDL and the Targeted EIDL Advance and Supplemental Targeted Advance and how you can take advantage before December 31, 2021.

Roughly 850 NYC-based applicants received Shuttered Venue Operator Grants (SVOG) according to the SBA’s September 20, 2021 report. New York State applicants have received a combined total of $1,955,893,159 as of December 13, 2021. For more information, visit the SBA website. Note: On December 5, the SBA emailed important information about deadlines and opportunities to SVOG funding recipients. Specifically, recipients should have received information about “Reconsideration 2.0” invitations, and actions awardees that did not receive Supplemental Awards can take to provide additional information to the SBA about eligibility. For more information, visit the SVOG webpage or join Zoom Office Hours with SVOG Executive Director Nina Ozlu Tunceli on Fridays at 11am.

The American Rescue Plan extends a number of critical tax benefits, particularly the Employee Retention Credit and Paid Leave Credit, to small businesses. Find out more on the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s website.

Borrowers may be eligible for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan forgiveness. The SBA launched a streamlined application portal to allow borrowers with Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans $150,000 or less through participating lenders to apply for forgiveness directly through the SBA. The new forgiveness platform will begin accepting applications from borrowers on August 4, 2021. Information about PPP loan forgiveness is available on SBA’s website.

The arts, entertainment, and hospitality industries were hit hard by the pandemic, with high unemployment rates. Many workers are experiencing housing insecurity and challenges with rent and mortgages. Please visit the federal Consumer Finance Protection Bureau’s webpage to find help, whether you are a renter, homeowner, or landlord.

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For the latest updates, sign up for MOME’s newsletter, follow our social media channels on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, or visit our website at www.nyc.gov/mome.

Please note that MOME’s offices will be closed on Friday, December 24 and Friday, December 31 in observance of the Christmas and New Year’s holidays.

On behalf of the team at MOME, I wish you and yours peace and light this holiday season.

Stay safe and stay NYC strong,

Anne del Castillo

Commissioner

Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment

www.nyc.gov/mome

@NYCMOMECommish

Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment

nyc.gov/mome

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