Appreciate it, fam
How has the Coronavirus impacted you directly, to this point?
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You’re welcome. Stay strong and all the best to you and your family.
Two Masks Are the New Masks (Published 2021)
Double-masking is a sensible and easy way to lower your risk when you have to spend more time around others — in a taxi, on a train or plane, or at an inauguration.
I'm at the prompt care now waiting on test results. Temp was a little high, 101.2. lost taste and smell, but that also happens when I get sinus infections (maybe a couple times a year).
This shit feel like waiting for AIDS results.
Update: so I tested positive. Time to get on the grind and fight like hell.
This shit feel like waiting for AIDS results.
Update: so I tested positive. Time to get on the grind and fight like hell.
Last edited:
prayers going out to you fam. We got you.
Preciate it
Thank You Sir
Cuomo Says Large NY Arenas, Venues Can Reopen Feb. 23 With Testing; Barclays to Host Fans That Day
"The truth is, we cannot stay closed until everyone is vaccinated. The economic, psychological, emotional cost would be incredible," the governor of New York says
By Jennifer Millman • Published 8 mins ago • Updated 5 seconds ago
BREAKING UPDATE: Declaring New York state's demonstration with the Buffalo Bills an "unparalleled success," Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Wednesday he will extend the rapid testing based program to any large stadium or arena.
That means fans who provide a negative PCR test within 72 hours of an event will be able to attend music shows and performances as well as baseball, soccer, football and basketball games. Arenas can open to the public Feb. 23. Barclays Center has been cleared to reopen on that day and has been granted approval to host fans for the Nets game against the Sacramento Kings, Cuomo said.
Certain rules and restrictions apply. There is a strict 10 percent capacity limit in arenas and stadiums with more than 10,000-person total capacity. Venues have to submit their plans to the State Department of Health for approval. Core mitigation efforts like mask-wearing, temperature checks and mandatory assigned seating to ensure social distancing will also be required.
"The testing to me is key. I can go see the president of the United States, take a test and if I pass the test, walk into the Oval Office," the governor said. "Why? If you're negative, you're negative. Testing is the key."
"This hits the balance of safe reopening," he added. "A PCR test is as safe as you can get.
Cuomo has said for months that rapid testing is the key to faster reopenings of entertainment, offices and more crowded areas before vaccination reaches critical mass. He has long said New York state and city can't stay shut down for the many months more it will take to reach that goal of herd immunity.
EARLIER: Gov. Andrew Cuomo is expanding on his plans Tuesday for a safe and smart reopening of New York before vaccination hits critical mass, which he says could be nearly another year out. The state -- and the vibrant city -- can't wait that long.
There may be a way to boost the struggling economy without waiting for that point, Cuomo says. Early evidence showed his first-in-the-nation testing pilot program with the Buffalo Bills over the weekend, in which 6,700 fans showed negative tests and agreed to contact tracing after attending the game socially distant but in person, appeared to be a success -- so much so that fans can attend the team's second playoff game Saturday in person under the same rules.
Could rapid testing be the answer? Could Broadway reopen this year? What about concerts at Madison Square Garden? The indoor vs. outdoor dilemma is a real one, Cuomo says, but rapid tests may be the key to a more immediate revival.
NY Expands Vaccination Rollout; NJ's Union County Vaccines Slots Left Opened
Monday was the first day that people over 75 and essential workers — including police officers, firefighters and teachers — were allowed to receive the vaccines in New York. NBC New York's Gaby Acevedo reports.
"With this new network of rapid testing locations, a customer can stop into a new rapid testing facility, get tested, and 15 minutes later be cleared for dinner or a movie," Cuomo's State of the State agenda read. (See more on his seven-point plan for rebuilding and reimaging New York here.)
In a follow-up State of the State Day 2 address Tuesday, Cuomo said he wants to work with the real estate community to open additional rapid testing sites so New Yorkers can take a test prior to whatever activity they plan to do.
Along with that come hopes of reopening office buildings; many commercial properties have already agreed to offer testing services to all tenants of their buildings on a regular basis, he said. Cuomo believes that will accelerate the return of the arts and culture scene across New York City and state.
To support that end, the state is launching New York Arts Revival, a private and public partnership to bring the arts back, the governor said. That group will organize pop-up performances and events throughout the state, beginning in early February. All of the events will be held outdoors to minimize risk of exposure.
"This groundbreaking initiative will help revive the arts while celebrating new York's resiliency and recovery from the COVID pandemic," Cuomo said.
He also announced the launch of a number of new initiatives, including one to put more than 1,000 artists back to work and fund community arts groups and another on future jobs as well as an overarching Commission on the Future of the New York Economy, led by NYU's Wagner Graduate School of Public Service.
"The post-COVID economy is still taking shape. we know it will be different. we just don't know precisely how it will be different," Cuomo said.
"This commission will help draw a roadmap to find opportunities for New Yorkers to get back to work in jobs that pay well in industries that will grow rather than disappear in the coming decades," he added. "They will study the economic issues that the crisis brought to the surface and also the low-tide America issues: the inequalities and structural racism that COVID exposed."
Among other proposals, Cuomo called Tuesday to expand SUNY's online training center, converting hotels and office buildings underutilized amid the pandemic into affordable housing and sweeping reform as it relates to broadband access.
"I propose a first in the nation mandate that Internet service providers recognize their public responsibility and offer $15 per month high speed internet service to all low-income households," Cuomo said Tuesday.
To bridge the gap, he said the state would establish a fund to subsidize broadband for families that cannot afford the $15 monthly fee. Without universal broadband access, the governor said, "the public education system that was supposed to be the great equalizer, becomes the great divider."
Even as Cuomo looks to develop New York's plan forward in a safe, economically expeditious manner, he says all must bear in mind the painful lessons learned over the course of this current crisis.
As the governor said Monday, "As we all now realize, there will be a next time."
www.nbcnewyork.com
@tallblacknyc
"The truth is, we cannot stay closed until everyone is vaccinated. The economic, psychological, emotional cost would be incredible," the governor of New York says
By Jennifer Millman • Published 8 mins ago • Updated 5 seconds ago
BREAKING UPDATE: Declaring New York state's demonstration with the Buffalo Bills an "unparalleled success," Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Wednesday he will extend the rapid testing based program to any large stadium or arena.
That means fans who provide a negative PCR test within 72 hours of an event will be able to attend music shows and performances as well as baseball, soccer, football and basketball games. Arenas can open to the public Feb. 23. Barclays Center has been cleared to reopen on that day and has been granted approval to host fans for the Nets game against the Sacramento Kings, Cuomo said.
Certain rules and restrictions apply. There is a strict 10 percent capacity limit in arenas and stadiums with more than 10,000-person total capacity. Venues have to submit their plans to the State Department of Health for approval. Core mitigation efforts like mask-wearing, temperature checks and mandatory assigned seating to ensure social distancing will also be required.
"The testing to me is key. I can go see the president of the United States, take a test and if I pass the test, walk into the Oval Office," the governor said. "Why? If you're negative, you're negative. Testing is the key."
"This hits the balance of safe reopening," he added. "A PCR test is as safe as you can get.
Cuomo has said for months that rapid testing is the key to faster reopenings of entertainment, offices and more crowded areas before vaccination reaches critical mass. He has long said New York state and city can't stay shut down for the many months more it will take to reach that goal of herd immunity.
EARLIER: Gov. Andrew Cuomo is expanding on his plans Tuesday for a safe and smart reopening of New York before vaccination hits critical mass, which he says could be nearly another year out. The state -- and the vibrant city -- can't wait that long.
There may be a way to boost the struggling economy without waiting for that point, Cuomo says. Early evidence showed his first-in-the-nation testing pilot program with the Buffalo Bills over the weekend, in which 6,700 fans showed negative tests and agreed to contact tracing after attending the game socially distant but in person, appeared to be a success -- so much so that fans can attend the team's second playoff game Saturday in person under the same rules.
Could rapid testing be the answer? Could Broadway reopen this year? What about concerts at Madison Square Garden? The indoor vs. outdoor dilemma is a real one, Cuomo says, but rapid tests may be the key to a more immediate revival.
NY Expands Vaccination Rollout; NJ's Union County Vaccines Slots Left Opened
Monday was the first day that people over 75 and essential workers — including police officers, firefighters and teachers — were allowed to receive the vaccines in New York. NBC New York's Gaby Acevedo reports.
"With this new network of rapid testing locations, a customer can stop into a new rapid testing facility, get tested, and 15 minutes later be cleared for dinner or a movie," Cuomo's State of the State agenda read. (See more on his seven-point plan for rebuilding and reimaging New York here.)
In a follow-up State of the State Day 2 address Tuesday, Cuomo said he wants to work with the real estate community to open additional rapid testing sites so New Yorkers can take a test prior to whatever activity they plan to do.
Along with that come hopes of reopening office buildings; many commercial properties have already agreed to offer testing services to all tenants of their buildings on a regular basis, he said. Cuomo believes that will accelerate the return of the arts and culture scene across New York City and state.
To support that end, the state is launching New York Arts Revival, a private and public partnership to bring the arts back, the governor said. That group will organize pop-up performances and events throughout the state, beginning in early February. All of the events will be held outdoors to minimize risk of exposure.
"This groundbreaking initiative will help revive the arts while celebrating new York's resiliency and recovery from the COVID pandemic," Cuomo said.
He also announced the launch of a number of new initiatives, including one to put more than 1,000 artists back to work and fund community arts groups and another on future jobs as well as an overarching Commission on the Future of the New York Economy, led by NYU's Wagner Graduate School of Public Service.
"The post-COVID economy is still taking shape. we know it will be different. we just don't know precisely how it will be different," Cuomo said.
"This commission will help draw a roadmap to find opportunities for New Yorkers to get back to work in jobs that pay well in industries that will grow rather than disappear in the coming decades," he added. "They will study the economic issues that the crisis brought to the surface and also the low-tide America issues: the inequalities and structural racism that COVID exposed."
Among other proposals, Cuomo called Tuesday to expand SUNY's online training center, converting hotels and office buildings underutilized amid the pandemic into affordable housing and sweeping reform as it relates to broadband access.
"I propose a first in the nation mandate that Internet service providers recognize their public responsibility and offer $15 per month high speed internet service to all low-income households," Cuomo said Tuesday.
To bridge the gap, he said the state would establish a fund to subsidize broadband for families that cannot afford the $15 monthly fee. Without universal broadband access, the governor said, "the public education system that was supposed to be the great equalizer, becomes the great divider."
Even as Cuomo looks to develop New York's plan forward in a safe, economically expeditious manner, he says all must bear in mind the painful lessons learned over the course of this current crisis.
As the governor said Monday, "As we all now realize, there will be a next time."
Cuomo: Large NY Venues Can Reopen Feb. 23 With Testing; Barclays to Host Fans That Day
Declaring New York state’s demonstration with the Buffalo Bills an “unparalleled success,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Wednesday he will extend the testing- based program to any large stadium or arena later this month. Fans who provide a negative PCR test within 72 hours of an event will be able...
www.nbcnewyork.com
@tallblacknyc
CDC confirms that double-masking significantly helps prevent the spread of COVID-19
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a new report on Wednesday confirming what many experts had already suggested: wearing two masks prevents the spread of COVID-19 more than wearing just one mask. The CDC also reports that a tight mask fit is important and significantly protects the wearer from contracting COVID-19.
To double mask or not to double mask? Here's what one doctor says
With new variants of COVID-19 popping up, some people have started wearing two masks.
AUSTIN, Texas — Have you noticed people wearing two masks? KVUE's Molly Oak has. So she asked Dr. Brian Metzger, the medical director of infectious diseases at St. David's Medical Center, whether two masks are better than one.
"I think what's new to this right now is the fact that there are these new variants that are out there that are slightly more transmissible, that are, we're seeing in other countries around the world," Metzger said. "We're starting to pick them up here in the United States. And so, people are looking to add that added level of protection. And the CDC has been clear about the type of mask you should use, it's one that has two or three layers. And, typically, that's a mask that has those two or three layers kind of embedded in itself with a tight fabric. But this just adds that extra layer of fabric on top of your surgical mask."
However, Metzger said there isn't much research behind doubling up on your mask.
"It's not something that's backed by a significant amount of data at this point. Other than that, what has been studied are the multi-layers," Metzger said. "So, two layers is better than one and three better than two because it's all about blocking those droplets and viral particles with a barrier. And so, the more barriers you can add – obviously, up to a point, you need to still breathe – then the more that you're going to block either that you're expelling or that you're breathing in."
Metzger said he does see a benefit to wearing two masks in some situations.
"I think it's good to use in certain high-risk situations where you can't completely distance or you're in an indoor environment with several people. I think those are the better situations rather than double masking outside, which is a much lower risk environment," Metzger said.
He said grocery trips or shopping indoors are two examples of when a second mask could be beneficial.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a new report on Wednesday confirming what many experts had already suggested: wearing two masks prevents the spread of COVID-19 more than wearing just one mask. The CDC also reports that a tight mask fit is important and significantly protects the wearer from contracting COVID-19.
To double mask or not to double mask? Here's what one doctor says
With new variants of COVID-19 popping up, some people have started wearing two masks.
AUSTIN, Texas — Have you noticed people wearing two masks? KVUE's Molly Oak has. So she asked Dr. Brian Metzger, the medical director of infectious diseases at St. David's Medical Center, whether two masks are better than one.
"I think what's new to this right now is the fact that there are these new variants that are out there that are slightly more transmissible, that are, we're seeing in other countries around the world," Metzger said. "We're starting to pick them up here in the United States. And so, people are looking to add that added level of protection. And the CDC has been clear about the type of mask you should use, it's one that has two or three layers. And, typically, that's a mask that has those two or three layers kind of embedded in itself with a tight fabric. But this just adds that extra layer of fabric on top of your surgical mask."
However, Metzger said there isn't much research behind doubling up on your mask.
"It's not something that's backed by a significant amount of data at this point. Other than that, what has been studied are the multi-layers," Metzger said. "So, two layers is better than one and three better than two because it's all about blocking those droplets and viral particles with a barrier. And so, the more barriers you can add – obviously, up to a point, you need to still breathe – then the more that you're going to block either that you're expelling or that you're breathing in."
Metzger said he does see a benefit to wearing two masks in some situations.
"I think it's good to use in certain high-risk situations where you can't completely distance or you're in an indoor environment with several people. I think those are the better situations rather than double masking outside, which is a much lower risk environment," Metzger said.
He said grocery trips or shopping indoors are two examples of when a second mask could be beneficial.
The Best Face Masks For Protection From Smoke, Viruses And More
The best face masks are easy to find and offer protection from smoke, viruses and more. Here are our top 15 picks you can order now.
www.forbes.com
Where to Buy Filters for CDC-Approved Cloth Face Masks
These are the best places to find filters to use with a CDC-recommended reusable face mask. Experts say filters can help increase the effectiveness of cloth masks.
Looking for a new mask? These are bestsellers and meet CDC guidelines
We've compiled the most sought after face masks we’ve covered this summer to help simplify your shopping.
www.nbcnews.com
Amazon product ASIN B08PD211J9
Two women ‘dressed up as grannies’ tried to get vaccinated in Florida
The women, aged 34 and 44, presented valid CDC cards indicating that they had already received their first coronavirus vaccine doses, said the health administrator for Orange County. “I don’t know how they escaped the first time,” he said.
The women, aged 34 and 44, presented valid CDC cards indicating that they had already received their first coronavirus vaccine doses, said the health administrator for Orange County. “I don’t know how they escaped the first time,” he said.
Report: New York City’s Arts and Recreation Employment Down by 66 Percent
The New York State comptroller’s office details the effects of the pandemic’s devastation and says a full recovery would be made only with government assistance.
The arts, entertainment and recreation sector had seen the largest drop of all the parts of the city’s economy, the report says.Credit...David S. Allee for The New York Times
By Colin Moynihan
The report from Thomas DiNapoli’s office said that the sector had seen the largest drop of all the parts of the city’s economy. A full comeback, it said, would depend upon significant government assistance.
The sector “is a cornerstone of the city’s ability to attract businesses, residents and visitors alike,” the report said. “Yet the sector relies on audiences who gather to take part in shared experiences, and this way of life has been significantly disrupted by the pandemic.”
Although nearly all business has been affected by the pandemic, its impact on arts, entertainment and recreation entities has been particularly striking.
From 2009 to 2019, employment in the sector — which in this report includes performing arts, spectator sports, gambling, entertainment, recreation, museums, parks and historical sites — grew by 42 percent, faster than the 30 percent rate for total private sector employment.
In 2019, according to the report, more than 90,000 people in 6,250 establishments were employed in the arts, entertainment and recreation. Those jobs had an average salary of $79,300 and provided $7.4 billion in total wages. In addition to businesses with employees, the report said, there are a large number of people who were self-employed, including artists and musicians.
In February 2020, just before the pandemic shutdown in New York City, nearly 87,000 people were employed in the arts, entertainment and recreation sector there, the report said. Many major institutions announced closures on March 12. A statewide stay-at-home order went into effect on March 22. By April, employment in the sector stood at 34,100 jobs.
Budgets at arts and recreation establishments have been “decimated,” the report said, and some organizations and facilities have struggled even as they were able to reopen, saying reduced revenues because of capacity restrictions, as well as diminished ticket sales, have limited income and necessitated budget cuts.
Many performing arts venues are still closed. Most Broadway theaters do not expect to reopen until June at the earliest, the report noted, adding that the Metropolitan Opera and the New York City Ballet announced they would not be reopening until September.
“Arts and recreation face an uphill climb to recover from the damage wrought,” the report said, adding: “The challenges facing the arts and entertainment sector require direct and impactful support from policymakers to maintain the city’s extensive cultural offerings.”
The New York State comptroller’s office details the effects of the pandemic’s devastation and says a full recovery would be made only with government assistance.
The arts, entertainment and recreation sector had seen the largest drop of all the parts of the city’s economy, the report says.Credit...David S. Allee for The New York Times
By Colin Moynihan
- Feb. 24, 2021
The report from Thomas DiNapoli’s office said that the sector had seen the largest drop of all the parts of the city’s economy. A full comeback, it said, would depend upon significant government assistance.
The sector “is a cornerstone of the city’s ability to attract businesses, residents and visitors alike,” the report said. “Yet the sector relies on audiences who gather to take part in shared experiences, and this way of life has been significantly disrupted by the pandemic.”
Although nearly all business has been affected by the pandemic, its impact on arts, entertainment and recreation entities has been particularly striking.
From 2009 to 2019, employment in the sector — which in this report includes performing arts, spectator sports, gambling, entertainment, recreation, museums, parks and historical sites — grew by 42 percent, faster than the 30 percent rate for total private sector employment.
In 2019, according to the report, more than 90,000 people in 6,250 establishments were employed in the arts, entertainment and recreation. Those jobs had an average salary of $79,300 and provided $7.4 billion in total wages. In addition to businesses with employees, the report said, there are a large number of people who were self-employed, including artists and musicians.
In February 2020, just before the pandemic shutdown in New York City, nearly 87,000 people were employed in the arts, entertainment and recreation sector there, the report said. Many major institutions announced closures on March 12. A statewide stay-at-home order went into effect on March 22. By April, employment in the sector stood at 34,100 jobs.
Budgets at arts and recreation establishments have been “decimated,” the report said, and some organizations and facilities have struggled even as they were able to reopen, saying reduced revenues because of capacity restrictions, as well as diminished ticket sales, have limited income and necessitated budget cuts.
Many performing arts venues are still closed. Most Broadway theaters do not expect to reopen until June at the earliest, the report noted, adding that the Metropolitan Opera and the New York City Ballet announced they would not be reopening until September.
“Arts and recreation face an uphill climb to recover from the damage wrought,” the report said, adding: “The challenges facing the arts and entertainment sector require direct and impactful support from policymakers to maintain the city’s extensive cultural offerings.”
New York opens vaccine sites in Brooklyn and Queens to target hardest-hit neighborhoods.
Feb. 24, 2021, 11:50 a.m. ETFeb. 24, 2021
Feb. 24, 2021
By Michael Gold
Outside of Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn on Wednesday. The site will provide vaccines to residents in parts of East New York, Brownsville, Bushwick, East Flatbush, Canarsie and Bedford-Stuyvesant.Credit...James Estrin/The New York Times
New York State opened two large vaccination sites on Wednesday in Brooklyn and Queens, part of an effort to boost inoculations in neighborhoods that have been hit particularly hard by the pandemic and where residents include some of those most vulnerable to severe illness from the virus.
The sites, established in partnership with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, were built to “bring the vaccine to the community that needs it most,” said Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo at a news conference at the Queens site, located at York College in Jamaica, on Wednesday. “And we’re going to give that community priority to get the vaccine.”
Each site is expected to provide 3,000 vaccine doses a day; Mr. Cuomo said they are the largest vaccination sites in the state so far.
Appointments are reserved only for eligible people who live in ZIP codes surrounding each location, many of which are home to low-income communities of color and immigrant communities who remain the hardest hit by the virus. After Saturday, the sites will be open to those in the surrounding borough.
At the York College site, the targeted ZIP codes are all in southeastern Queens. They include parts of Jamaica, South Jamaica and Far Rockaway, which were hit particularly hard by the virus and where only 3 or 4 percent of adults have received at least one vaccine dose.
The site in Brooklyn, at Medgar Evers College, will first focus on vaccinating residents in parts of East New York, Brownsville, Bushwick, East Flatbush, Canarsie and Bedford-Stuyvesant, which include some of the poorest neighborhoods in the city and have disproportionately low vaccination rates. It is also open to residents of neighborhoods that have been hit somewhat less severely by the virus, including Crown Heights, Prospect-Lefferts Gardens, Prospect Heights and Clinton Hill, which have large communities of color.
Data released by New York City officials showed that many of the areas being targeted by the state sites had some of the lowest vaccination rates in the city, in some cases lagging significantly behind the share of residents vaccinated in wealthier ZIP codes in Manhattan that have higher proportions of white residents.
Experts say people across the country who live in underserved neighborhoods face a variety of obstacles in getting the vaccine, including registration systems and websites that can take hours to navigate; a lack of transportation; and difficulty getting time off from work to get a shot. Many people in communities of color also are more likely to be hesitant about getting vaccinated, in light of the history of unethical medical research in the United States.
According to the city’s data, white New Yorkers have so far received a disproportionate share of the doses administered. Of city residents who received at least one dose, about 42 percent were white, 15 percent were Latino, 16 percent were Asian and 12 percent were Black. Latino and Black residents were underrepresented: The city’s population is roughly 29 percent Latino and 24 percent Black.
Those eligible to receive the vaccine at the Brooklyn and Queens sites can schedule appointments online, by calling 1-833-697-4829 or by visiting the locations in person between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Appointments are required.
Feb. 24, 2021, 11:50 a.m. ETFeb. 24, 2021
Feb. 24, 2021
By Michael Gold
Outside of Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn on Wednesday. The site will provide vaccines to residents in parts of East New York, Brownsville, Bushwick, East Flatbush, Canarsie and Bedford-Stuyvesant.Credit...James Estrin/The New York Times
New York State opened two large vaccination sites on Wednesday in Brooklyn and Queens, part of an effort to boost inoculations in neighborhoods that have been hit particularly hard by the pandemic and where residents include some of those most vulnerable to severe illness from the virus.
The sites, established in partnership with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, were built to “bring the vaccine to the community that needs it most,” said Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo at a news conference at the Queens site, located at York College in Jamaica, on Wednesday. “And we’re going to give that community priority to get the vaccine.”
Each site is expected to provide 3,000 vaccine doses a day; Mr. Cuomo said they are the largest vaccination sites in the state so far.
Appointments are reserved only for eligible people who live in ZIP codes surrounding each location, many of which are home to low-income communities of color and immigrant communities who remain the hardest hit by the virus. After Saturday, the sites will be open to those in the surrounding borough.
At the York College site, the targeted ZIP codes are all in southeastern Queens. They include parts of Jamaica, South Jamaica and Far Rockaway, which were hit particularly hard by the virus and where only 3 or 4 percent of adults have received at least one vaccine dose.
The site in Brooklyn, at Medgar Evers College, will first focus on vaccinating residents in parts of East New York, Brownsville, Bushwick, East Flatbush, Canarsie and Bedford-Stuyvesant, which include some of the poorest neighborhoods in the city and have disproportionately low vaccination rates. It is also open to residents of neighborhoods that have been hit somewhat less severely by the virus, including Crown Heights, Prospect-Lefferts Gardens, Prospect Heights and Clinton Hill, which have large communities of color.
Data released by New York City officials showed that many of the areas being targeted by the state sites had some of the lowest vaccination rates in the city, in some cases lagging significantly behind the share of residents vaccinated in wealthier ZIP codes in Manhattan that have higher proportions of white residents.
Experts say people across the country who live in underserved neighborhoods face a variety of obstacles in getting the vaccine, including registration systems and websites that can take hours to navigate; a lack of transportation; and difficulty getting time off from work to get a shot. Many people in communities of color also are more likely to be hesitant about getting vaccinated, in light of the history of unethical medical research in the United States.
According to the city’s data, white New Yorkers have so far received a disproportionate share of the doses administered. Of city residents who received at least one dose, about 42 percent were white, 15 percent were Latino, 16 percent were Asian and 12 percent were Black. Latino and Black residents were underrepresented: The city’s population is roughly 29 percent Latino and 24 percent Black.
Those eligible to receive the vaccine at the Brooklyn and Queens sites can schedule appointments online, by calling 1-833-697-4829 or by visiting the locations in person between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Appointments are required.
We look at four new virus developments — two encouraging, two worrisome.
A nursing home resident in Brooklyn received a vaccination last month.Yuki Iwamura/Reuters
‘Amazing’ — and alarming
There are two new pieces of encouraging news about the pandemic — and two worrisome developments. Let’s take them one at a time, starting with the positive.
1. Nursing homes deaths are way down.
They have plummeted, falling by more than 60 percent between late December and early February. The main cause is straightforward: Nursing home residents have been among the first people to be vaccinated.
This chart — from my colleagues Matthew Conlen, Sarah Mervosh and Danielle Ivory — tells the story:
Sources: New York Times database and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
It’s another sign of how powerful the vaccines are. The decline in deaths happened surprisingly fast, said Dr. Sunil Parikh, a Yale University epidemiologist. It occurred even though most nursing home residents and employees have not yet received both of their vaccine shots — and it has likely continued over the past two weeks, which are not shown in this chart.
“I’m almost at a loss for words at how amazing it is and how exciting,” said Dr. David Gifford, the chief medical officer for the American Health Care Association, which represents long-term-care facilities.
The nursing home data add to the evidence that the vaccines don’t just work in research trials — they work in the real world, too. (A new study of Israel, published yesterday in The New England Journal of Medicine, offered the same message.)
2. Another vaccine looks excellent.
The Food and Drug Administration released a report about a vaccine that it has not yet approved — from Johnson & Johnson — and the data were extremely positive.
Like the two vaccines that are already being administered in the U.S. — from Moderna and Pfizer — Johnson & Johnson’s eliminated both death and hospitalization in its research trial: About 20,000 people received the vaccine in the trial, and not a single one was hospitalized with Covid-19 symptoms a month later.
“I’ll never stop being amazed at zero hospitalizations among vaccinated in study after study,” Dr. Aaron Richterman of the University of Pennsylvania wrote. “It’s astonishing.” Dr. Isaac Bogoch, an infectious disease expert, called the results “terrific.” Dr. Kavita Patel wrote: “I would definitely recommend it for myself and my patients.”
The Johnson & Johnson vaccine also substantially reduced the number of moderate and asymptomatic Covid cases. It didn’t eliminate them, but the vaccines don’t need to eliminate all Covid cases in order to end the crisis. A sharp reduction — and sharper reduction in severe cases — can eventually turn this terrible coronavirus into yet another manageable virus.
(The nursing home data help make this point, as well: The number of confirmed cases has fallen by more than 80 percent, which is even bigger than the decline in deaths.)
A key advantage of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is that it requires only one shot, making it easier to administer than the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, which require two. An F.D.A. committee will meet on Friday, and the agency could approve the vaccine shortly afterward.
3. But caseloads are no longer falling.
The number of new cases has stopped declining in the U.S.:
By The New York Times | Sources: Health agencies and hospitals
The same is happening worldwide:
By The New York Times | Sources: Health agencies and hospitals
I don’t want to overreact to one week of data. But you can see a change in those lines. The most likely explanation is the more contagious variants of the virus, like the B.1.1.7 variant, which was first detected in Britain.
Tellingly, cases first stopped falling in much of Europe, where that variant is more widespread. On Friday, a top health official in Germany warned that country could be heading toward another “turning point,” after weeks of falling infections.
It’s a reminder that the pandemic is far from over. The variants have the potential to cause new outbreaks, especially if unvaccinated people become lax about mask wearing and social distancing.
4. And vaccinations have stalled.
This is not a good trend:
By The New York Times | Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The storms of the past week are the major cause of the vaccination slowdown, having temporarily closed sites and delayed vaccine shipments. Whatever the reason, though, it will have consequences: Fewer vaccinations mean more deaths.
The biggest task facing the Biden administration over the next two months is accelerating the pace from the current 1.4 million vaccines per day to about three million per day.
A nursing home resident in Brooklyn received a vaccination last month.Yuki Iwamura/Reuters
‘Amazing’ — and alarming
There are two new pieces of encouraging news about the pandemic — and two worrisome developments. Let’s take them one at a time, starting with the positive.
1. Nursing homes deaths are way down.
They have plummeted, falling by more than 60 percent between late December and early February. The main cause is straightforward: Nursing home residents have been among the first people to be vaccinated.
This chart — from my colleagues Matthew Conlen, Sarah Mervosh and Danielle Ivory — tells the story:
Sources: New York Times database and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
It’s another sign of how powerful the vaccines are. The decline in deaths happened surprisingly fast, said Dr. Sunil Parikh, a Yale University epidemiologist. It occurred even though most nursing home residents and employees have not yet received both of their vaccine shots — and it has likely continued over the past two weeks, which are not shown in this chart.
“I’m almost at a loss for words at how amazing it is and how exciting,” said Dr. David Gifford, the chief medical officer for the American Health Care Association, which represents long-term-care facilities.
The nursing home data add to the evidence that the vaccines don’t just work in research trials — they work in the real world, too. (A new study of Israel, published yesterday in The New England Journal of Medicine, offered the same message.)
2. Another vaccine looks excellent.
The Food and Drug Administration released a report about a vaccine that it has not yet approved — from Johnson & Johnson — and the data were extremely positive.
Like the two vaccines that are already being administered in the U.S. — from Moderna and Pfizer — Johnson & Johnson’s eliminated both death and hospitalization in its research trial: About 20,000 people received the vaccine in the trial, and not a single one was hospitalized with Covid-19 symptoms a month later.
“I’ll never stop being amazed at zero hospitalizations among vaccinated in study after study,” Dr. Aaron Richterman of the University of Pennsylvania wrote. “It’s astonishing.” Dr. Isaac Bogoch, an infectious disease expert, called the results “terrific.” Dr. Kavita Patel wrote: “I would definitely recommend it for myself and my patients.”
The Johnson & Johnson vaccine also substantially reduced the number of moderate and asymptomatic Covid cases. It didn’t eliminate them, but the vaccines don’t need to eliminate all Covid cases in order to end the crisis. A sharp reduction — and sharper reduction in severe cases — can eventually turn this terrible coronavirus into yet another manageable virus.
(The nursing home data help make this point, as well: The number of confirmed cases has fallen by more than 80 percent, which is even bigger than the decline in deaths.)
A key advantage of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is that it requires only one shot, making it easier to administer than the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, which require two. An F.D.A. committee will meet on Friday, and the agency could approve the vaccine shortly afterward.
3. But caseloads are no longer falling.
The number of new cases has stopped declining in the U.S.:
By The New York Times | Sources: Health agencies and hospitals
The same is happening worldwide:
By The New York Times | Sources: Health agencies and hospitals
I don’t want to overreact to one week of data. But you can see a change in those lines. The most likely explanation is the more contagious variants of the virus, like the B.1.1.7 variant, which was first detected in Britain.
Tellingly, cases first stopped falling in much of Europe, where that variant is more widespread. On Friday, a top health official in Germany warned that country could be heading toward another “turning point,” after weeks of falling infections.
It’s a reminder that the pandemic is far from over. The variants have the potential to cause new outbreaks, especially if unvaccinated people become lax about mask wearing and social distancing.
4. And vaccinations have stalled.
This is not a good trend:
By The New York Times | Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The storms of the past week are the major cause of the vaccination slowdown, having temporarily closed sites and delayed vaccine shipments. Whatever the reason, though, it will have consequences: Fewer vaccinations mean more deaths.
The biggest task facing the Biden administration over the next two months is accelerating the pace from the current 1.4 million vaccines per day to about three million per day.
- The federal government is backing the test of an online portal to help the public find vaccines.
- Moderna said it would test vaccines modified to protect against a variant first discovered in South Africa.
- A new variant is spreading in New York City, researchers say.
- Ghana and other West African countries will begin vaccinating people as part of Covax, a global vaccine-sharing initiative. But as rich countries buy most of the supply, inequalities remain.
- Corruption scandals are exposing how powerful and well-connected people in South America jumped the vaccine line.
How to "knot and tuck" your mask for added protection
The CDC recently updated its mask guidance. The latest rules recommend taking certain steps to ensure your mask fits tightly on your face and adding layers for additional protection.
The CDC recently updated its mask guidance. The latest rules recommend taking certain steps to ensure your mask fits tightly on your face and adding layers for additional protection.
We use the ear savers to tighten up the fit.
as of last tuesday i know 16 people that has died from that wuhan flu with another one on life support...shit is crazy it purged alot of folks i
personally known for years....this is not a national "purge" its global....
personally known for years....this is not a national "purge" its global....
Wow? 16? Where do you live?
detroit....this virus showed most of all that i know died health wasnt all that great..#16 drank that cheap rot gut beer all day everyday....
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They’re vaccinated and keeping their masks on, maybe forever
Face coverings have been a political flash point for more than a year. But now, the backlash is directed at people who don’t plan to take them off.
Face coverings have been a political flash point for more than a year. But now, the backlash is directed at people who don’t plan to take them off.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki says she would caution ‘against disproving a negative’ after Fox News correspondent Peter Doocy questions the origins of COVID-19 during a press briefing on Thursday
A previously undisclosed US intelligence report contained information that three researchers from China’s Wuhan Institute of Virology had to be hospitalized due to illness in November 2019 with ‘symptoms consistent with both COVID-19 and common seasonal illness,’ according to a Wall Street Journal report
The report reveals that current and former officials familiar with the information “expressed differing views about the strength of the supporting evidence for the assessment.” The Biden administration declined to comment on the intelligence but expressed that “all technically credible theories on the origin of the pandemic should be investigated by the WHO and international experts.”
