Sep 16, 2020
For months, I have talked about how important it is for people of all ages to wear a mask, and it has sometimes been a challenge to reach young people, especially since they may feel that the virus poses less of a direct threat to their own health than it does for older generations. I felt like I had tried everything — begged, pleaded, threatened. I didn't know what else was left — but I thought humor might do it. So I called up Paul Rudd, who I had met at an event before COVID began. I said, "You know, can you do a PSA, a video, that really gets to young people?" And Paul Rudd said, "Yeah, I can do it."
Paul Rudd might be an unlikely partner to help reach Gen Z-ers and millennials, but he was up for the task, and he delivered a video that is funny as heck. It's gotten over 12 million views already and if you haven't seen it, I recommend that you do. Whether you're old, young, or somewhere in-between — mask up.
Here's what else you need to know tonight:
1. The total number of hospitalizations remains low. Yesterday, there were 481 total hospitalizations. Of the 73,678 tests reported yesterday, 766, or 1.0 percent, were positive. Sadly, we lost 11 New Yorkers to the virus.
2. Six states have been removed from New York's COVID-19 Travel Advisory. Individuals traveling from California, Hawaii, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada and Ohio will not be subject to a 14-day quarantine. The Northern Mariana Islands have also been removed, but Puerto Rico has been added to the list. See more info here.
3. New York will not ban trick-or-treating this Halloween. When Halloween comes around, I'll give New Yorkers my advice and provide guidance so everyone can make a decision for themselves and their families on whether or not trick-or-treating is something they want to do this year.
4. The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade will be held in a virtual format this year. The parade will be televised on November 26th, but will feature pre-recorded performances. The iconic balloons will also be flown over New York City but using approved specialty vehicles.
Tonight's "Deep Breath Moment": In the interim between seasons, the Ice Theater of New York would usually practice in indoor rinks, but with the pandemic shutting down rinks, the figure skaters have swapped their blades for wheels. The performing group continues to practice with inline skates, using public spaces like parks and playgrounds to glide until the winter freeze arrives and they can return to the ice.
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