Vaccine Inequity
Governor Cuomo announced today that in conjunction with the federal government and with the assistance of FEMA, two mass-vaccination sites will be opened in socially vulnerable communities: one at Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn and the second at York College in Queens. These sites are expected to vaccinate 3,000 people per day, over an eight week period. The state plans to work with the federal government to open similar sites outside of New York City in yet to be determined locations capable of handling up to 1,000 people a day.
Take me out to the Ball Game…
The Governor also announced major stadiums and arenas with a seating capacity of 10,000 or more can begin reopening on February 23rd. Venues must follow guidelines similar to the pilot program that took place earlier this year with the Buffalo Bills.
For professional sporting events a venue must do the following:
- Obtain DOH approval for both venues and events;
- Institute a 10 percent capacity limit in arenas and stadiums;
- Ensure all staff and spectators receive a negative COVID-19 PCR test within 72 hours of the event;
- Mandate face coverings, social distancing and temperature checks for all those in attendance;
- Mandate assigned, socially distanced seating;
- Collect contact information from all those in attendance to help inform contact tracing efforts;
- Meet enhanced air filtration, ventilation and purification standards; and,
- Ensure retail, food services and athletic activities abide by all state-issued guidance.
Official guidance has yet to be published.
New York State COVID-19 Numbers
The statewide positivity rate yesterday was 4.02%. There were 7,875 hospitalized individuals yesterday, and over the past week there has been a net decrease of 489 patients hospitalized. There were 136 COVID-19 deaths in New York State yesterday.
