Coronavirus Updates: NYC Poised To Approve Reopening Of 3,000 Daycares

This is our daily update of breaking COVID-19 news for Tuesday, July 7h, 2020. Previous daily updates can be found here, and up-to-date statistics are here.

New York City is in Phase 3 of reopening now, which includes nail salons, tattoo parlors, and massage facilities as well as recreation like tennis and basketball courts; dog runs are also reopening. A look at preparing for the spread of coronavirus is here, and if you have lingering questions about the virus, here is our regularly updated coronavirus FAQ. Here are some local and state hotlines for more information: NYC: 311; NY State Hotline: 888-364-3065; NJ State Hotline: 800-222-1222.

Here’s the latest:

• EPA Approves Two Lysol Cleaning Products As Effective At Fighting COVID-19
• Everything You Need To Know About Phase 3 Of Reopening NYC
• Fire Island Pines Leaders Demand Changes After Weekend Of “Irresponsible” Partying During Pandemic
• State Study Says Covid Spread In Nursing Homes Was Driven By Employees, Not Readmitted Patients

12 p.m. The New York City Board of Health is slated to approve the reopening of 3,000 childcare centers across the five boroughs on July 13th, as the city continues to pull back on restrictions implemented during the coronavirus outbreak, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced this morning.

“The Board of Health is looking at the data, looking at the facts, how to do this properly, how to do it safely. There’s been a lot of conversation between the Board of Health and our Health Department and the childcare providers over recent weeks and they are ready to go,” de Blasio said during a press conference.

The Board of Health is expected this afternoon to review a set of guidelines for reopening, including a maximum occupancy of 15 children per room, social distancing requirements, mandatory face coverings for staff and children, frequent health screenings, and disinfection of facilities.

Kids will allowed to share items such as toys only on a limited basis.

Staffers with the city Health Department will inspect programs to verify compliance.

Along with the 125 city childcare centers that have been operating since April solely for children of essential workers, Regional Enrichment Centers overseen by New York City’s Department of Education have been open for children of essential workers as well. Those centers became childcare centers after school wrapped up two weeks ago.

The Board of Health largely serves at the pleasure of the mayor, who appoints the majority of the members. Current members include the city health commissioner, Dr. Oxiris Barbot, and New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation CEO, Dr. Mitchell Katz.

“One of the things we see—thank God—is that the data consistently shows a low infection rate among children when it comes to the coronavirus,” de Blasio said.

EPA Approves Two Lysol Cleaning Products As Effective At Fighting COVID-19

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has approved two cleaning products made by Lysol that have been proven to kill the coronavirus known as SARS-CoV-2.

The two Lysol cleaners, Lysol Disinfectant Spray and Lysol Disinfectant Max Cover Mist, are the first for which the agency has reviewed laboratory studies to support its claims as being effective against the virus that causes COVID-19.

All told, the EPA has approved more than 420 disinfectants for use against the coronavirus. But up until last week, with the examination of the two Lysol products, the agency had only been vetting surface disinfectant products that either demonstrated that they could kill other viruses, not the specific coronavirus that causes COVID-19.

“EPA is committed to identifying new tools and providing accurate and up-to-date information to help the American public protect themselves and their families from the novel coronavirus,” said EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler in a press release on Monday. “EPA’s review of products tested against this virus marks an important milestone in President Trump’s all of government approach to fighting the spread of COVID-19.”

Cleaning product manufacturers have experienced record sales during the pandemic. As of April, sales of Lysol disinfectant in North America were up more than 50 per cent.

“Lysol is currently testing the efficacy of other disinfectant products in the brand portfolio,” Ferran Rousaud, marketing director for Lysol, said in a statement.

Trump in late April falsely speculated that disinfectants could be used as a cure for coronavirus. The comments alarmed public health experts and spurred health authorities and Lysol’s parent company to issue warnings that cleaning products should never be ingested.

The EPA’s website currently contains a disclaimer that says, “These products are for use on surfaces, NOT humans.”

The primary modes of transmission of the virus are still hotly debated in the scientific community. In May, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its guidance to clarify that while it may be possible to become infected by touching a surface that has the virus, “this isn’t thought to be the main way the virus spreads.”

Similarly, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has said there is no need to wipe down food packaging.

“We want to assure you there is currently NO evidence of human or animal food or food packaging being associated with transmission of the #COVID19,” the agency tweeted in late April.