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Coronavirus Updates: Five NYC Hospitals Set To Receive Vaccine Today
By
Elizabeth Kim
Published Dec 14, 2020
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CHINE NOUVELLE/SIPA/Shutterstock
By
Elizabeth Kim
Published Dec 14, 2020
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This is our daily update of breaking COVID-19 news for Monday, December 14th, 2020. Previous daily updates can be found here, and up-to-date statistics are here.
New York City is in Phase 4 of reopening now, which includes zoos, botanical gardens, museums, and gyms. Citing rising hospitalization rates, Governor Andrew Cuomo has suspended indoor dining in NYC starting Monday, December 14th. After being shut down for several weeks, NYC public schools began to partially reopen on December 7th for 3K-5th grade students, with students with special needs returning on December 10th. Certain parts of Staten Island remain under a zoned shutdown.
Get answers to questions you may have with our "Ask An Epidemiologist" series, or learn more about NYC COVID-19 testing options with our explainer. Here are some local and state hotlines for more information: NYC: 311; NY State Hotline: 888-364-3065; NJ State Hotline: 800-222-1222.
Here's the latest:
- NYC Nurse Is The First Person Vaccinated For COVID-19 In The U.S.
- Everything We Know So Far About The COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout In NY & NJ
Nearly 60 New York City hospitals are set to receive shipments of Pfizer's coronavirus vaccinations by Wednesday, city Health Commissioner Dr. Dave Chokshi said.
During a press conference with Mayor Bill de Blasio, Chokshi said that five hospitals are on track to get the vaccines on Monday, while another 54 have shipments scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. Healthcare workers are set to be vaccinated first, followed by nursing home residents and staff members.
Earlier in the morning, the first non-trial vaccine shot in the country was administered to a critical care nurse at Long Island Jewish Medical Center in Queens.
Asked about his response to the event, the mayor said, "I felt this welling up of hope. This amazing sense of we are actually turning the corner."
"We were watching an incredibly historic moment," he added.
De Blasio is planning to attend a vaccination event at one of the five hospitals later today.
Dr. Chokshi did not identify any of the hospitals, citing a need for security.
A doctor at one city hospital in Queens said staff had not yet been informed when vaccinations would begin, but expected it to happen soon, possibly next week.
New York City is expecting 465,000 doses in the first three weeks of the mass vaccination effort. That estimated tally includes shipments from Moderna, another vaccine manufacturer which is expected to undergo federal approval this week. Both vaccines require two-doses administered roughly three weeks apart. Both require cold storage, although Pfizer's vaccine must be stored in ultra-cold temperatures.
Despite the sense of relief that a vaccine had finally arrived, city officials continued to express concern about the accelerating spread of the virus and urged New Yorkers to continue wearing mask and practice social distancing.
The city's latest seven-day average testing positivity rate is 5.5%, the highest it has been since May.
Widespread vaccine distribution is not expected to begin until sometime in the middle of 2021, according to Chokshi.
"The cavalry is on the way," Chokshi said. "But we must acknowledge that it is a slow and steady march."
Tagged
covid-19 updates
coronavirus
Elizabeth Kim
Elizabeth Kim is a reporter on the People and Power desk who covers mayoral power. She previously covered the pandemic, housing, redevelopment and public spaces. A native of Queens, she speaks fluent Mandarin. Got a tip? Email [email protected]
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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