Coronavirus

NYC subway to restore some overnight service

Photo: Patrick Cashin / MTA New York City Transit

February 16, 2021

NYC subway to restore some overnight service

By Devin Gannon

Overnight subway service in New York City will partially resume this month following more than nine months of closure. Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced on Monday plans for a phased reopening of the subway starting February 22, which includes closing the system for cleaning from 2 a.m. to 4 a.m. instead of from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. Cuomo last May ordered the closure of 24/7 service, a first for the system, as part of a rigorous coronavirus disinfection plan and an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19.
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New York stadiums and arenas can reopen February 23 with COVID-19 testing

Photo by Ajay Suresh on Flickr

February 10, 2021

New York stadiums and arenas can reopen February 23 with COVID-19 testing

By Devin Gannon

Large stadiums and arenas in New York can welcome back fans and audiences starting February 23, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Wednesday. Venues that reopen must operate at 10 percent capacity and with coronavirus testing requirements in place. According to the governor, this could apply to sports, music, and performance venues. The Barclays Center has already been approved to reopen for a Brooklyn Nets game against the Sacramento Kings on February 23.
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New Yorkers with underlying health conditions eligible for COVID vaccine as of February 15

Photo from the opening of COVID-19 Vaccination Site at St. Luke’s Church in the Bronx, via Governor Cuomo’s office/Flickr

February 8, 2021

New Yorkers with underlying health conditions eligible for COVID vaccine as of February 15

Governor Cuomo announced on Friday, that beginning Monday, February 15th, New Yorkers of any age 16+ with certain comorbidities and underlying health conditions will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccination. This includes conditions such as moderate to severe asthma, pregnancy, heart disease, and type 1 or 2 diabetes.
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Policy

NYC restaurants can expand indoor dining capacity to 35% next week

Photo by Marcus Herzberg from Pexels

February 8, 2021

NYC restaurants can expand indoor dining capacity to 35% next week

By Devin Gannon

New York City restaurants can expand indoor dining capacity from 25 to 35 percent starting February 26, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Friday. "That will be consistent with New Jersey," the governor said during a press conference, referring to the 35 percent capacity. After closing indoor dining in December, Cuomo said city restaurants could serve customers inside again on February 12, citing the end of the "post-holiday" surge of coronavirus cases. The governor last week also extended the closing times for bars, restaurants, and other businesses from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m.
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Citi Field’s mass vaccine site opens this week for TLC drivers, food delivery workers, and Queens residents

Mayor de Blasio with Mets owner Steve Cohen and Mr. and Mrs. Met. Photo credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office.

February 8, 2021

Citi Field’s mass vaccine site opens this week for TLC drivers, food delivery workers, and Queens residents

The Mets will join the Yankees in offering their stadiums to serve as mass COVID vaccination sites. Just as Yankee Stadium is earmarked for Bronx residents, Citi Field's appointments will be set aside 50 percent for drivers with TLC licenses and food delivery workers and 50 percent for Queens residents, Mayor De Blasio announced today in a press conference. The Flushing, Queens site will open this Wednesday, February 10th at 10:00am.
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Policy

See the mass vaccination site now open at Yankee Stadium for Bronx residents

Photo by Daniel Vargas on Unsplash

February 5, 2021

See the mass vaccination site now open at Yankee Stadium for Bronx residents

By Devin Gannon

As of today, the mass coronavirus vaccination site is open at Yankee Stadium. Appointments are reserved for Bronx residents only who meet phase 1a and 1b eligibility requirements, and the site will operate every day from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Gov. Mayor Bill de Blasio, wearing a Yankees cap (he's a vocal Red Sox fan), was at the stadium and spoke with Yankees president Randy Levine, manager Aaron Boone, and legendary player Mariano Rivera, all of whom encouraged people to sign up for vaccines. As of today, 13,000 of the 15,000 available appointments through next week had been filled.
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Policy

NJ loosens COVID-19 restrictions on indoor gatherings, lifts restaurant curfew

Photo of Asbury Festhalle & Biergarten by cogito ergo imago on Flickr

February 3, 2021

NJ loosens COVID-19 restrictions on indoor gatherings, lifts restaurant curfew

By Devin Gannon

Starting Friday, New Jersey restaurants and bars can serve more customers and stay open later. Gov. Phil Murphy on Wednesday signed an executive order relaxing some coronavirus restrictions for indoor gatherings, pointing to a decrease in new daily cases and hospitalizations across the state. Under the order, which goes into effect ahead of Super Bowl Sunday, indoor dining capacity can increase from 25 percent to 35 percent and the 10 p.m. curfew at restaurants will be lifted.
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NYC vaccination data shows ‘profound’ racial gaps

Vaccination center at NYCHA Van Dyke Houses in Brownsville, Brooklyn on Tuesday, January 19, 2021. Photo credit: Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

February 1, 2021

NYC vaccination data shows ‘profound’ racial gaps

By Devin Gannon

Black and Latino residents in New York City have received far fewer doses of the coronavirus vaccine than white New Yorkers, according to preliminary data released by the city on Sunday. Of the roughly 300,000 city residents vaccinated with at least one dose, 48 percent of them were white, 15 percent Asian, 15 percent Latino, and 11 percent Black. Mayor Bill de Blasio called the racial disparities "profound," since Latino and Black residents make up 29 and 24 percent of the city's population, respectively.
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Policy

Starting March 15, wedding receptions in New York can resume with rapid COVID testing

Photo by Alasdair Elmes on Unsplash

January 29, 2021

Starting March 15, wedding receptions in New York can resume with rapid COVID testing

Anxious brides across the state just got some good news. Starting March 15th, wedding receptions in New York can take place with 50 percent of a venue's capacity, up to 150 people. These events will also require all guests to receive a rapid COVID test and be approved by the local health department, Governor Cuomo announced today. Currently, there is a maximum of 50 people allowed at weddings, with a six-foot distance required between guests.
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Policy

MTA unveils digital memorial honoring over 100 transit workers lost to COVID-19

Photos courtesy of Marc A. Hermann/ MTA unless otherwise noted

January 25, 2021

MTA unveils digital memorial honoring over 100 transit workers lost to COVID-19

By Devin Gannon

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority on Monday unveiled a memorial dedicated to the 136 employees who have died from the coronavirus since March. The tribute, named "Travels Far: A Memorial Honoring Our Colleagues Lost to COVID-19" after a poem by Tracy K. Smith commissioned for the project, includes an eight-minute video featuring photographs of the frontline MTA workers who lost their lives to the virus. The video will run on 138 three-panel digital screens at 107 subway stations across the city starting Monday.
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Popular Articles

Vending machines selling at-home COVID tests are headed for NYC

Image courtesy of Wellness 4 Humanity

January 25, 2021

Vending machines selling at-home COVID tests are headed for NYC

When the pandemic hit, health startup Wellness 4 Humanity pivoted its mission to aid in providing COVID-19 tests to the public. Unlike many other tests, theirs were all created to be taken at home, including the more standard saliva test, as well as a rapid test that gets results in 15 minutes. The Houston-based company has now broadened its reach with its vending machines, which will be selling at-home tests starting at $119 across cities nationwide. Here in New York City, the first machine is expected to pop up at the office building 225 West 34th Street, but W4H co-founder Pavel Stuchlik told 6sqft that we can expect more machines in easily accessible spots throughout the city.
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City Living

NYC running out of COVID vaccines, reschedules 23,000 appointments

Dr. Michelle Chester of Northwell Health in Queens prepares to administer the first coronavirus vaccine in New York State; Photo: Scott Heins for the Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo on Flickr

January 20, 2021

NYC running out of COVID vaccines, reschedules 23,000 appointments

This past Friday, Mayor de Blasio began warning that New York City was likely to run out of COVID-19 vaccines in a week. And yesterday he confirmed these fears in his daily press briefing. "We will begin to run out on Thursday... And we will have literally nothing left to give as of Friday." The city did not receive any additional doses, and therefore, has cancelled 23,000 appointments and closed its 15 vaccination hubs. This comes as the state has more than 9,000 people hospitalized from the virus, the highest number since May 4.
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Policy

How Joe Biden will affect NYC’s renters, real estate, and recovery

Photo by Gage Skidmore on Flickr

January 20, 2021

How Joe Biden will affect NYC’s renters, real estate, and recovery

By Devin Gannon

After Joe Biden is sworn in as the 46th president of the United States on Wednesday, his immediate focus will be getting the coronavirus pandemic under control and providing direct relief to Americans. In addition to immediate actions related to COVID-19, Biden's Day 1 housing priorities include extending the federal nationwide moratorium on residential evictions through the end of September and sending an additional $25 billion in rental assistance to states. Down the road, Biden has proposed fewer developer-friendly policies than his predecessor, including a repeal of the 1031 exchange and reform of the Opportunity Zone tax program. But overall, there is optimism among New York City real estate industry experts who see a Biden Administration as a way to restore stability and consumer confidence. With a pledge to defeat COVID-19 and send federal support to New York City, there's hope on the horizon for the city's recovery.
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NYC offers free rides to COVID-19 vaccine sites for seniors

Mayor Bill de Blasio visits a vaccination site at Hillcrest High School, Queens. Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office.

January 19, 2021

NYC offers free rides to COVID-19 vaccine sites for seniors

By Devin Gannon

New York seniors who are unable to get to and from their coronavirus vaccine appointments will now be provided a free ride from the city, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Sunday. Residents aged 65 and older who are unable to make their own arrangements to a city-operated vaccination site can sign up for transportation starting Monday. According to the city, about 10,000 rides will be offered each week.
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Policy

Empire State Building’s heartbeat light show returns for nationwide COVID-19 memorial

Photo courtesy of Empire State Realty Trust

January 14, 2021

Empire State Building’s heartbeat light show returns for nationwide COVID-19 memorial

By Devin Gannon

A memorial honoring the lives lost to the coronavirus pandemic will be held at the Lincoln Memorial next week and cities and towns are invited to join the tribute with ceremonies of their own. President-elect Joe Biden's Presidential Inaugural Committee announced plans to feature a lighting around the Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C. on January 19, the evening before the inauguration. The Empire State Building will participate by playing its red heartbeat light show, which first debuted last year as a tribute to the city's frontline workers.
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Events & Things To Do

See the mass vaccination site now open at the Javits Center

All photos courtesy of Don Pollard/ Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo on Flickr

January 13, 2021

See the mass vaccination site now open at the Javits Center

By Devin Gannon

Nearly 10 months after the Jacob K. Javits Center became a temporary hospital during the peak of the coronavirus pandemic in New York, the convention center has now opened as a mass vaccination hub. The state-run Manhattan site officially opened on Wednesday for those eligible under expanded phases 1A and 1B, which includes healthcare workers, essential workers, and New Yorkers aged 65 and older. Appointments are required at the Javits Center site. Find out if you are eligible to receive the vaccine and schedule an appointment here.
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Policy

Cuomo’s ‘Arts Revival’ initiative will bring outdoor pop-up performances and events across New York

Photo by Luca Bravo on Unsplash

January 12, 2021

Cuomo’s ‘Arts Revival’ initiative will bring outdoor pop-up performances and events across New York

By Devin Gannon

Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday unveiled the "New York Arts Revival" initiative, a plan to bring art and culture back to the state after the coronavirus pandemic has brought much of the industry to a standstill. As part of a public-private partnership, the effort will bring a series of pop-up performances and arts events across New York starting February 4. According to the governor, who made the announcement during his multi-day State of the State address, the events will feature performers like Amy Schumer, Chris Rock, Wynton Marsalis, Renée Fleming, Hugh Jackman, and others. "We will not let the curtain fall on their careers or the future of our cities," Cuomo said.
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New Yorkers 65+, teachers, first responders eligible to receive COVID vaccine as of this week

Dr. Michelle Chester of Northwell Health in Queens prepares to administer the first coronavirus vaccine in New York State; Photo: Scott Heins for the Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo on Flickr

January 12, 2021

New Yorkers 65+, teachers, first responders eligible to receive COVID vaccine as of this week

After a very public disagreement between the governor and the mayor over vaccine eligibility, Governor Cuomo announced on Friday that he's expanding eligibility to the initial groups of phase 1B starting this week. Previously, only healthcare workers and nursing home residents and staff were eligible. The expansion initially allowed education workers, first responders, public safety workers, public transit workers, public-facing grocery store workers, and New Yorkers 75+ to receive the vaccine. But in a Tuesday press conference, the governor expanded this list further, allowing those 65+ and immunocompromised persons to be eligible. This now qualifies roughly 7 million New Yorkers, however, the state is only receiving about 300,000 doses per week.
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Policy

24/7 mass vaccination site will open at Citi Field this month

A mass vaccination site at NYC Health + Hospitals/ Bathgate in the Bronx; Photo: Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

January 12, 2021

24/7 mass vaccination site will open at Citi Field this month

By Devin Gannon

Mayor Bill de Blasio on Tuesday announced some "Amazin'" news. A 24/7 coronavirus vaccination site will launch at Citi Field in Flushing, Queens later this month with the capacity to vaccinate between 5,000 and 7,000 people each day. "The Mets organization has stepped up to the plate to help us out," de Blasio said during a press briefing. "I really appreciate the fact that the Mets wanted to do this. They wanted to be part of solving this problem, helping the Queens community, and helping all of New York City." Launching the week of January 25, the vaccine hub will be run by NYC Health + Hospitals and open to New Yorkers eligible under the first phase of distribution, "even Yankees fans," the mayor said.
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Policy

New York City has administered just 25% of COVID vaccine allocation

Mayor de Blasio attends first vaccinations at NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst in Queens last month. Photo by Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office

January 4, 2021

New York City has administered just 25% of COVID vaccine allocation

The latest city-state discrepancy comes in the form of vaccine distribution. Last week, Mayor de Blasio announced his goal of administering one million COVID-19 vaccine doses by the end of January. However, in a press conference today, Governor Cuomo turned attention to New York City, as their 11 publicly run hospitals have administered just 31 percent of their vaccine allocation. And on a whole, the city has administered a mere 25 percent of those doses received, according to its own vaccine tracker.
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Policy

NY healthcare providers who fraudulently distribute COVID vaccine could lose license, be fined $1M

Dr. Michelle Chester of Northwell Health in Queens prepares to administer the first coronavirus vaccine in New York State; Photo: Scott Heins for the Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo on Flickr

December 28, 2020

NY healthcare providers who fraudulently distribute COVID vaccine could lose license, be fined $1M

By Devin Gannon

Healthcare providers in New York who are found to have violated the law regarding the distribution of the coronavirus vaccine could lose their license, be fined up to $1 million, and face possible prison time, under a new executive order Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Monday. The order comes after reports of a network of urgent care centers in New York City provided vaccines to people not considered a priority by the state. The first phase of distribution includes high-risk hospital workers, nursing home residents, nursing home staff, followed by all long-term and congregate care residents and staff, EMS workers, other health care workers, coroners, and medical examiners.
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Policy

NYC launches online COVID-19 vaccine tracker

Mayor Bill de Blasio observes vaccinations for healthcare workers at NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst. Elmhurst, Queens. Wednesday, December 16, 2020. Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

December 23, 2020

NYC launches online COVID-19 vaccine tracker

By Devin Gannon

New York City this week launched a new online tool that tracks the number of people given the coronavirus vaccine each day. As part of the city's Vaccine Command Center, which opened earlier this month to provide real-time troubleshooting and response for vaccination sites, the website features up-to-date information regarding the number of vaccines reserved by the government for the city and delivered, as well as the number of people who have received doses.
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Policy

Funding for MTA and Broadway included in latest federal COVID relief bill

Photo by (vincent desjardins) on Flickr

December 21, 2020

Funding for MTA and Broadway included in latest federal COVID relief bill

By Devin Gannon

Congress on Sunday reached an agreement on a $900 billion emergency coronavirus relief package, roughly nine months after the first stimulus was signed into law. The package is expected to provide one-time direct payments of $600 to most taxpayers and provide an additional $300 per week to those unemployed. In some positive news for New York, the stimulus deal also includes $4 billion to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the Save Our Stages bill, which provides funding for live performance venues, comedy clubs, and Broadway. Congress could vote on the package as early as Monday.
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New York releases preliminary plan for distributing COVID vaccine to the general public

Photo of a Pfizer vaccine vial by Scott Heins/Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo

December 16, 2020

New York releases preliminary plan for distributing COVID vaccine to the general public

Photo of a Pfizer vaccine vial by Scott Heins/Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo On Monday, the first COVID vaccine in the nation was administered to Sandra Lindsay, an ICU nurse at Long Island Jewish Medical Center in Queens. New York's initial allotment of Pfizer vaccines includes 170,000 doses earmarked for those included in the first phase of distribution. Once these groups have received vaccinations, the state moves to phase two, which includes essential workers and priority general public (those with underlying health conditions, etc.). In a press conference today, Governor Cuomo said he expects phase two to begin in late January if the vaccine supply continues. He also outlined more details about this phase, including the establishment of Regional Vaccination Hubs and the launch of a new vaccine-focused website.
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Policy

After 90 years, NYC’s legendary 21 Club will close

Photo by Marianne O’Leary on Flickr

December 14, 2020

After 90 years, NYC’s legendary 21 Club will close

By Devin Gannon

Midtown Manhattan's historic speakeasy 21 Club plans to close for good next year. The Prohibition-era restaurant on 52nd Street between 5th and 6th Avenue, known for its art collection, jockey figurines, and A-list clientele, has been closed since the coronavirus pandemic first hit New York City in March. But as amNY reported, the closure appears to be permanent.
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Food & Dining

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