Wednesday, March 11, 2020

CANCELED COMMUNITY BOARD 7 MEETINGS AND STATEMENT ON CORONAVIRUS FROM THE BOARD


Concern about the coronavirus pandemic has led Community Board 7 to cancel upcoming meetings. The canceled meetings are
 
  • the Sanitation/Environment Committee meeting that was scheduled for today, March 11th,
  • the Transportation Committee Meeting, scheduled for March 16th, and
  • the monthly board meeting, scheduled for March 18th.

All of these meetings had been scheduled to take place at the Community Board 7 office.  The meetings will be rescheduled for a later date.

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Community Board 7 chairperson Cesar Zuniga has issued a statement about coronavirus.

Dear Friends and Neighbors:

I want to start by noting that this is an extremely fluid situation. As a community we should make sure we are not heightening fears and anxiety.

Please stay updated on the COVID-19 facts and recommendations from the CDC https://www.cdc.gov/ and NYC DHMH https://www1.nyc.gov/site/doh/health/health-topics/coronavirus.page.

Out of an abundance of caution, we've made the decision to suspend all public meetings until further notice.

I will be asking custodial staff to increase cleaning and disinfecting surfaces, particularly touch points like bathroom taps and door handles.  I want to make sure that the CB continues to coordinate with authorities to amplify important public health information.

We are unfortunately already hearing about racism, stigma, and xenophobia being exacerbated by the fear of the virus. Concerns about COVID-19 should focus on the facts and on our desire to ensure that our communities are as safe as possible.  We need to do what we can to ensure that this situation does not lead to racist and xenophobic behavior.

One thing we can do is to ensure that everyone has access to the essential facts about the virus, and how to reduce any stigma associated with this disease.

Here are some good resources to educate your staff and possibly share with families:

You can also text “COVID” to 692692 for updates.

This is a time for caution and making decisions based on facts, not panic and rumor.  Community Board 7 will do its best to help keep you informed with the latest information and we hope that you will continue to use reputable sources for information about the virus.  Please also check in on your vulnerable neighbors, particularly seniors and those with immune deficiencies. 

Sincerely,
Cesar