New Vaccination Eligibility Begins on Sunday, February 14

Governor Andrew Cuomo today announced that New Yorkers with comorbidities and underlying conditions can make appointments at State-run mass vaccination sites beginning Sunday, February 14th.  The first of these appointments can be scheduled for Monday, February 15th. Local health departments will determine how, where and when to schedule appointments in their jurisdictions. The Governor stipulated that no local jurisdiction should accept appointments until vaccine allocations are known, and no earlier than February 14th.

 

To show they have comorbidities or underlying conditions, New Yorkers must provide documentation as required by the facility where they are getting vaccinated.  This documentation must be either:

  • Doctor’s letter,
  • Medical information evidencing comorbidity, or
  • Signed certification

 

Up-to-date information about vaccine eligibility, including the full list of comorbidities and underlying conditions, can be found online HERE.

 

New York City Indoor Dining Can Reopen Early On Friday, February 12th

Governor Cuomo today announced that New York City indoor dining can reopen at 25 percent capacity on Friday, February 12th.  This earlier reopening allows restaurants to prepare for Valentine’s Day operations.

 

“NY PopsUp” Performing Arts Festival

Governor Cuomo today announced the launch of NY PopsUp – a performing arts festival featuring hundreds of live pop-up performances, many of which are free of charge and all open to the public.  NY PopsUp will launch on Saturday, February 20 and run through Labor Day, and will include the 20th Anniversary of the Tribeca Film Festival and The Festival at Little Island at Pier 55.  NY PopsUp will strictly adhere to NYS Department of Health COVID-19 protocols.  More information about this festival can be found online HERE.

 

New York City

Mayor de Blasio today said restaurant workers, delivery workers and TLC drivers can be vaccinated at Citifield. Upon further digging, we confirmed with NYC DOHMH that all restaurant workers and delivery workers are eligible to get vaccinated at any site in NYC, not just Citifield. However, Citifield will have 50% of their slots reserved for the restaurant and TLC eligibility groups. New appointments for the 15 City Vaccine Hubs will likely be opened on Tuesday or Wednesday. The updated State Vaccine Form (only to be used AFTER you set an appointment) can be found here: HERE.

 

NYC Councilmember Ydanis Rodriguez and 18 other Councilmembers sent a letter to the Governor Cuomo calling on him to allow NYC Indoor Dining at 50% capacity. He also asked the Governor to extend the curfew to midnight, allow seating / service at the bar, impose a 90-minute limit on indoor dining, and require contact tracing, temperature checks, PPE, hand sanitizer stations and social distancing.

 

New York State COVID-19 Numbers

The statewide positivity rate yesterday was 4.28%.  There were 7,716 hospitalized individuals yesterday, and over the past week there has been a net decrease of 287 patients hospitalized. There were 114 COVID-19 deaths in New York State yesterday.