Mar 4, 2021
- The Janssen/Johnson & Johnson vaccine adds to our supply in New York and we will begin using this third vaccine tonight at Yankee Stadium. We are expanding our vaccine distribution by opening three new short-term mass vaccination sites upstate. The sites will be located at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, NY (Dutchess County); SUNY Genesee in Batavia, NY (Genesee County); and Jamestown Community College in Olean, NY (Cattaraugus County). These sites open tomorrow, March 5, and aim to distribute the vaccine in areas of the State that need additional options for residents. Vaccinating as many New Yorkers as possible is vital to protecting public health and ultimately defeating the virus, and these sites take us further along in this effort.
Here's what else you need to know tonight:
1. COVID hospitalizations dropped to 5,177. Of the 270,089 tests reported yesterday, 7,593, or 2.81 percent, were positive. There were 1,043 patients in ICU yesterday, down four from the previous day. Of them, 712 are intubated. Sadly, we lost 60 New Yorkers to the virus.
2. As of 11am today, 96 percent of first doses allocated to the state have been administered. This represents 3,231,841 first doses administered of the 3,375,540 first dose allocations received from the federal government. So far, 4,959,235 total doses have been administered out of the 5,515,260 total doses received. See data by region and county on the State's Vaccine Tracker: ny.gov/vaccinetracker.
3. The State is adjusting travel restrictions. Domestic travelers to New York State who have been vaccinated no longer have to quarantine or test out within 90 days of their full vaccination. International travelers still must adhere to CDC quarantine guidelines.
4. The NY Forward Rapid Testing program is helping us fast-track our economy's reopening. Testing is one of the key components of a successful reopening, and this public-private partnership provides New Yorkers with convenient access to low-cost COVID-19 rapid tests. Tests are available to New Yorkers for no more than $30. Learn more and find a testing site.
5. Twelve community-based pop-up vaccination sites are coming online this week. These sites, established at public housing developments, churches, community centers, schools and fire stations, are expected to vaccinate more than 4,000 people throughout the week. Since January 15, 120 community-based pop-up sites have administered more than 50,000 first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. As has been the case with previous pop-up sites, these sites will be re-established in three weeks to administer second doses.
Tonight's "Deep Breath Moment": Kindness begets kindness, and tonight's DBM takes us to the small town of Dauphin, Pennsylvania. UPS driver Chad Turns has become a familiar face in the neighborhood, where he has delivered packages for years, getting to know many of the town's residents in the process. To show their appreciation for Chad's work and dedication, especially during the pandemic, Dauphin residents pooled together to throw him a surprise party—socially distanced and with masks—in his honor. They presented him with balloons, cards and $1,000, a gesture that brought Chad to tears.
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