Apr 30, 2021
- Today we're further easing restrictions on restaurants, personal care services and gyms. Our progress makes this possible. On May 7, indoor dining in NYC, hair salons, barber shops and other personal care services will expand to 75 percent capacity. And beginning May 15, gyms and fitness centers can expand to 50 percent capacity. This is all good news, but we're not out of the woods yet. Our progress is directly related to what we do and how we act. Until we've beaten COVID once and for all we must continue the precautions we know work to stop the spread—wearing masks, staying socially distanced and, most importantly, getting vaccinated.
Here's what else you need to know tonight:
1. COVID hospitalizations dropped to 2,837. Of the 220,074 tests reported yesterday, 3,868, or 1.76 percent, were positive. The 7-day average positivity rate was 1.93 percent. There were 666 patients in ICU yesterday, down 25 from the previous day. Of them, 423 are intubated. Sadly, we lost 44 New Yorkers to the virus.
2. As of 11am this morning, 46.0 percent of New Yorkers have completed at least one vaccine dose. Over the past 24 hours, 218,676 total doses have been administered. To date, New York has administered 15,389,526 total doses with 34.1 percent of New Yorkers completing their vaccine series. See data by region and county on the State's Vaccine Tracker: ny.gov/vaccinetracker.
3. The State will distribute $6.7 million in relief aid to New York's seafood, marine commercial, and for-hire fishing industries. This aid comes after excessive business losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. New York State will distribute an additional $5.7 million in the coming months, for a total of $12.4 million, through the Marine Fisheries Relief Program, which administers federal funding provided by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act.
4. The Executive Order establishing the micro-cluster zone strategy will be rescinded in light of our continued progress. Due to improving numbers, it's time to loosen some restrictions put in place to protect the public health and help our local businesses. Applicable state public health guidance must still be followed for all industries.
Tonight's "Deep Breath Moment": A hospital volunteer who has dedicated nearly half of her life to helping others celebrated her 100th birthday on April 12. Marian Hakanson rang in her centennial birthday at the Northridge Hospital in Los Angeles, where she has been volunteering for the past 25 years. Prior to her stint at Northridge, Hakanson spent 25 years volunteering at a children's hospital.
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