Mar 9, 2021
- The vaccine is the weapon that will win the war against COVID and we are marching forward to expand access to the vaccines. Starting tomorrow, March 10, at 8am, all New Yorkers 60 years of age and older will be eligible to receive the vaccine. Beginning March 17, eligibility will expand again, allowing public-facing essential workers from governmental and nonprofit entities to get the vaccine. This expansion also includes public-facing essential building services workers. New Yorkers will be able to make appointments through the Am I Eligible tool or by calling the NYS Vaccine Hotline at 1-833-NYS-4-VAX (1-833-697-4829). The fight against the COVID virus continues on all fronts and by vaccinating as many New Yorkers as possible, we come closer to defeating the virus and getting back to the things we love.
Here's what else you need to know tonight:
1. COVID hospitalizations rose to 4,899. Of the 174,514 tests reported yesterday, 6,850, or 3.93 percent, were positive. There were 1,011 patients in ICU yesterday, up six from the previous day. Of them, 675 are intubated. Sadly, we lost 75 New Yorkers to the virus.
2. As of 11am this morning, 19.4 percent of New Yorkers have completed at least one vaccine dose. Over the past 24 hours, 156,774 total doses have been administered. To date, New York administered 5,797,480 total doses with 9.6 percent of New Yorkers completing their vaccine series. See data by region and county on the State's Vaccine Tracker: ny.gov/vaccinetracker.
3. Effective March 17, most vaccination sites will be able to vaccinate any eligible New Yorker, no matter the category. Any vaccine provider will be able to vaccinate any eligible New Yorker, excluding pharmacies, which will focus on individuals over the age of 60 and teachers, in line with federal policy. Pharmacies may begin vaccinating individuals over the age of 60 and teachers starting tomorrow, March 10.
4. The MTA released a new digital feature to help locate vaccine sites. The MTA's Live Subway Map can now be used to find vaccination sites in New York City. The map includes links with each location that directs users to the appropriate scheduling website. If the site takes appointments over the phone, the map provides the phone number.
5. Today I signed the COVID-19 Emergency Protect Our Small Businesses Act of 2021. This act establishes eviction and foreclosure protections for small businesses. These new protections build on moratoriums on commercial evictions and foreclosures established by Executive Order that have given New York businesses peace of mind since COVID first arrived in New York over a year ago. The legislation will initially apply to small businesses with under 50 employees that demonstrate a financial hardship, as well as small businesses with 10 or fewer units.
Tonight's "Deep Breath Moment": The New York Aquarium in Brooklyn recently welcomed a new resident: a harbor seal pup named Sidney. Sidney, who will be joining the Sea Cliffs exhibit at the aquarium, is an orphaned harbor seal pup that was rescued by Pacific Marine Mammal Care in California in February 2020. She arrived at the aquarium in November of last year, but needed some time to acclimate to her new environment. She already has a new friend—another harbor seal pup named Murphy. Welcome to New York, Sidney.
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