The Peru Gazette

The effort to vaccinate New Yorkers continues in full scale. While Johnson & Johnson is paused, we are using the Pfizer vaccine in order to meet and maintain scheduled appointments. It is important to keep in mind as we wait for federal direction that the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is being carefully scrutinized and reviewed by top experts on an independent federal panel. Close to 40 percent of New Yorkers have now received at least one dose of the vaccine, which is great progress—and a testament to the dedication of our providers and our partners across the state who have been instrumental in making sure the vaccine distribution is fair and equitable. We will continue vaccinating as many New Yorkers as possible as quickly as possible. Like it has been from day one with this virus, our progress is only as safe as our determination to keep building on it.

Photo of the Day: Ashwinkoemar Soechit, a worker at the Belmont Park Redevelopment Project site, received the COVID-19 vaccine earlier today (Photo by Don Pollard)

1. Effective Monday, April 19, the curfew for bars and restaurants will be extended. The current curfew will be extended from 11 pm to midnight. The curfew for catered events will also move from midnight to 1 am.

2. COVID hospitalizations dropped to 4,091. Of the 208,163 tests reported yesterday, 6,192, or 2.97 percent, were positive. The 7-day average positivity rate was 3.12 percent. There were 887 patients in ICU yesterday, up 18 from the previous day. Of them, 563 are intubated. Sadly, we lost 43 New Yorkers to the virus.

3. As of 11 am this morning, 39.1 percent of New Yorkers have completed at least one vaccine dose. Over the past 24 hours, 186,876 total doses have been administered. To date, New York has administered 12,440,535 total doses with 25.9 percent of New Yorkers completing their vaccine series. See data by region and county on the State’s Vaccine Tracker: ny.gov/vaccinetracker.

4. Spectators will be allowed at horse and auto races at 20 percent capacity beginning Thursday, April 22. Spectators will be subjected to the State’s strict guidance, which is currently in effect for other professional sports competitions with fans. Attendees must show proof of a recent negative test or completed vaccination series prior to entry and are subjected to the State’s health and safety protocols on face coverings, social distancing and health screening.

Tonight’s “Deep Breath Moment”: Lincoln Center will soon have a brand-new front lawn—of sorts. “The GREEN,” designed by noted set designer Mimi Lien, will transformLincoln Center’s concrete plaza into an expansive artificial lawn as part of an initiative to revive the arts. The installation, which runs from May 10 through September, will host pop-up performances, and will also offer books to borrow from the New York Public Library. Safety protocols in place to ensure all visitors can enjoy “The GREEN” safely.

Ever Upward,

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo