Feb 24, 2021
- Today, New York recorded the lowest single-day positivity rate since November 21—2.85 percent. New Yorkers have shown courage and fortitude in the face of this unprecedented pandemic, and it's thanks to them that we're seeing a decline in hospitalizations and COVID positivity. We continue to make strides in our vaccination progress, too, with today's opening of two "mega" vaccination sites at Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn and York College in Queens. Not only are these sites located directly in traditionally underserved communities of color that were hit hardest by the pandemic, but thanks to enhanced MTA bus service, we're making it even easier to access this life-saving vaccine. As we move forward, we will continue to prioritize social equity and fairness and do everything we can to ensure every New Yorker, regardless of race, background or where they live, gets vaccinated.
Here's what else you need to know tonight:
1. COVID hospitalizations dropped slightly to 5,876. Of the 216,813 tests reported yesterday, 6,189, or 2.85 percent, were positive. There were 1,154 patients in ICU yesterday, down 22 from the previous day. Of them, 800 are intubated. Sadly, we lost 99 New Yorkers to the virus.
2. As of 12pm today, 89 percent of first doses allocated to the state have been administered. This represents 2,517,003 first doses administered of the 2,812,900 first dose allocations received from the federal government. So far, 3,907,040 total doses have been administered out of the 4,530,640 total doses received. See data by region and county on the State's Vaccine Tracker: ny.gov/vaccinetracker.
3. Eligible New Yorkers can start making appointments at New York/FEMA mass vaccination sites in Buffalo, Rochester, Albany and Yonkers. These four sites open March 3 and appointments are initially reserved for eligible New Yorkers in qualifying ZIP codes. After a week, appointments will then open to all residents of counties (or other geographical areas) served by each site. Find all the details here.
4. Beginning March 1, the MTA will launch a pilot program to enhance bus services to help get New Yorkers to our mass vaccination sites in Brooklyn and Queens. The bus service route will go from Edgemere Houses in Queens and Pink Houses in Brooklyn to the vaccination sites from 6:30 a..m. to 9 p.m. and add new bus stops adjacent to the vaccination site at York College.
Tonight's "Deep Breath Moment": American space exploration efforts are reaching new bounds with the landing of NASA's Perseverance rover on Mars. The rover landed on the red planet on February 18 and during its first week, recorded the sounds of Martian wind. Perseverance's exploration of our neighboring planet is part of NASA's Mars 2020 mission to expand our understanding of our solar system and space.
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