Table of Contents

Important Guidance

My Office

Symptoms

Prevention

Congressional Action

Travel

Help for Veterans

Help for Small Businesses

Resources for Parents and Students

Caring for Animals

Elections

Coronavirus in Queens

Census During Coronavirus

*Updated August 25, 2020*

Considering the outbreak and spread of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), it is important that we are aware of what we can do to protect ourselves and our loved ones.

Please see my guide to important resources for my constituents during this time. You can also see the guide in Spanish and Chinese.

Please see information on testing sites in our district here.

For questions on access to cash payments, please see my fact sheet here.

For info on Unemployment Insurance, please see my fact sheet here.

The CDC has published the following fact sheets in various languages.

30 Days to Slow the Spread: English, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean

What You Need to Know: English, Simplified Chinese, Spanish

What to do if you are sick: English, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Arabic, Russian, Vietnamese, Nepali, Haitian Creole

Stop the Spread of Germs: English, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Arabic, Russian, Vietnamese, Korean, Nepali, Haitian Creole

The New York State Department of health has published the following:

Protect Yourself from COVID-19: English, Spanish, Bengali, Chinese, Haitian, Korean, Russian (PDF)



Discrimination against anyone in our community should not be tolerated. The New York State Division of Human Rights has published the following on coronavirus discrimination: here in the following languages: English, 中文版 (Chinese), 한국어 (Korean), عربى (Arabic), বাঙালি (Bengali), Español (Spanish), Français (French), Русская версия (Russian).

You can access up to date information from the CDC at: coronavirus.gov

Important Guidance

Governor Cuomo has issued an executive order requiring all New Yorkers to wear face masks and coverings in public. Please find more information here.

In addition, Governor Cuomo announced plans for the phased reopening of the various New York State regions and businesses. New York City entered Phase 4 of reopening on July 20th. There will be additional testing spots added to high-risk areas who are predominantly low income and minority communities. For up-to-date guidance and information, please visit https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/home.

You can also visit the NY Forward Business Reopening Lookup tool to help determine whether and where your business or practice is able to reopen. You can also review the public health and safety standards with which your business or practice must comply.

Detailed information on the most up-to-date guidance from the CDC can be found here. Additional steps to keep Americans safe from Coronavirus can be found here.

My Office

Federal, state, and local officials have strongly advised social distancing as a necessary and critical community strategy to combat the spread of COVID-19. As such, the Congresswoman’s staff will be working remotely. NY-6 residents will still be able to receive assistance by calling the District Office or the D.C. office or by sending an email message through https://meng.house.gov/contact/email-me. Constituents needing help with a federal agency will be connected to a casework staffer during normal business hours through the District Office number at 718-358-6364. If you need help with a federal agency, please see further instructions here.

Symptoms

For confirmed COVID-19 cases, reported symptoms have ranged from mild to severe, including fever, cough, shortness of breath, chills, shaking from chills, new loss of taste or smell, muscle pain, headache, or sore throat. The CDC believes at this time that symptoms of COVID-19 may appear in as few as 2 days or as long as 14 days after exposure.

Call your healthcare professional if you feel sick with fever, cough, or difficulty breathing, and have been in close contact with a person known to have COVID-19, or if you live in or have recently traveled from an area with ongoing spread of COVID-19.

The CDC also has a tool, the self-checker, to guide you in making decisions about seeking appropriate care.

Prevention

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19. The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. The CDC recommends everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases, including:

Avoid close contact with people who are sick. Stay home as much as possible. Put distance between yourself and other people . Remember that some people without symptoms may be able to spread the virus. This is especially important for people who are at higher risk of getting very sick.

Wash your hands. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.

Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover when around others You could spread COVID-19 to others even if you do not feel sick. Everyone should wear a cloth face cover when they have to go out in public, for example to the grocery store or to pick up other necessities. Cloth face coverings should not be placed on young children under age 2, anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance. The cloth face cover is meant to protect other people in case you are infected. Do NOT use a facemask meant for a healthcare worker. Continue to keep about 6 feet between yourself and others. The cloth face cover is not a substitute for social distancing.

Cover your cough or sneeze. If you are in a private setting and do not have on your cloth face covering, remember to always cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze or use the inside of your elbow. Throw used tissues in the trash. Immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, clean your hands with a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

Clean and disinfect. Clean AND disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe. This includes tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and sinks. If surfaces are dirty, clean them: Use detergent or soap and water prior to disinfection.



Congressional Action

In Congress, we have now passed four relief packages to help families and workers: I first voted for The Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Act, a strong, bipartisan $8.3 billion emergency funding package. This helped health agencies to prepare for and prevent the spread of the coronavirus, and included a provision from my bill – the Small Business Relief From Communicable Disease Induced Economic Hardship Act of 2020, H.R.6040 to bring disaster relief loans for small businesses that have been impacted by COVID-19.

We then passed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, which included money I secured to provide small businesses loans. Then the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was passed on March 27th. This included important language to provide for cash assistance for Americans and expands Unemployment Insurance eligibility. We also passed the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act, an interim funding package to replenish funds for small business loans and for hospitals and coronavirus testing. Most recently, the House of Representatives passed the Heroes Act, a historic package to provide immediate relief to families – through additional cash assistance to families, unemployment benefits, and a national coronavirus testing strategy. The Heroes Act is awaiting action in the Senate.

Travel

Travel Advisories related to COVID-19 vary by country. Full details from the State Deaprtment can be found here. If you are traveling, I encourage you to sign up for alerts through the State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program so you are easier to locate in case of an emergency.

Governor Cuomo announced individuals traveling to New York from designated states, all of which have significant community spread, must quarantine for 14 days. Please see further information here.

Help for Veterans

If you are a veteran and need assistance accessing Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facilities, please visit www.va.gov/coronavirus for the most up to date information. Guidance for your facility’s operating status can be found through the facility locator here: https://www.va.gov/find-locations. If you are experiencing symptoms, please call medical facility or call MyVA311 (844-698-2311, press #3 to be connected). For more details, see my Veterans’ Resources page.

Help for Small Businesses

Congresswoman Meng secured a provision in the first coronavirus relief package that enables small businesses to access the Small Business Administration’s disaster relief loans. Find more information on how to apply here and my SBA loans guide here.

Resources for Parents and Students

Government agencies are partnering with local school and health officials to maintain best practices and address concerns due to changes in response to COVID-19 precautions. Please visit the New York City Department of Education's resource page, U.S. Department of Education’s resource page, the CDC Guidance page, and Student Financial Aid for more information.

Caring for Animals

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has stated there is no evidence at this time that animals are a significant factor in spreading the COVID-19 virus. Please reach out to local shelters and animal service agencies to find out what support is available or if you have any questions regarding the safety of your animal and visit the CDC website for additional information.

Elections

The New York General Elections are set to occur on November 3rd, 2020. Voter registration applications must be postmarked no later than October 9, 2020. You can find more information about the General Elections here. All New Yorkers can request an absentee ballot due to concerns about contracting the coronavirus. You can find more information on absentee ballot applications here.

Coronavirus in Queens

The New York State Department of Health has published comprehensive data on the rates of testing, which you can view here.

Census During Coronavirus

The Census bureau has adjusted operations to account for safety measures during the coronavirus pandemic. You can still respond to the census online through October 31st. For more details, please see my page here or the Census website here.

Health Resources

I know that many of you are concerned about your health. For specific questions regarding public health concerns, the New York State can answer your questions here or at 1-888-364-3065.

Health care workers can text NYFRONTLINE to 741-741 to access 24/7 emotional support services. New Yorkers can also call the COVID-19 Emotional Support Hotline at 1-844-863-9314 for mental health counseling.

For regular updates from the CDC, please check their website here.

For regular updates from the New York City Department of Health, please check their website here.

For regular updates from the New York State Department of Health, please check their website here.