U.S. Vaccinates Nearly 2 Million, while COVID Continues to Wreak Havoc

By Yehudit Garmaise

   Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported on Shabbos that more than 1.9 million Americans have already been vaccinated for COVID 19, and the federal government has delivered more than 9.5 million vaccination doses to states, territories and federal agencies, the coronavirus continues to wreak havoc throughout the county, like a dragon that refuses to be slain.

     In New York, on Shabbos, the coronavirus took 115 lives statewide on Shabbos and left more than 7,000 other people in hospitals, said officials, many of whom fear the worst of coronavirus is to come.

   The latest fatalities brought the New York state’s number of confirmed deaths due to COVID-19 to number 29,511, this highest death toll in the country, according to state Health Department data.

   “As we near the end of the holiday season, New York remains locked in a footrace between the vaccine’s quick distribution and COVID-19′s continued spread,” Gov. Cuomo said in a Sunday statement. “It has been a tough year and we still have several tough months ahead, but we can see the light at the end of the tunnel and we will make it there if we all do our part to slow the spread.”

    As officials consider whether to renewed lockdown measures, all eyes have been on the rate at which COVID tests come back positive, averaged over seven days. 

    The seven-day average of the COVID positivity rate has been steadily increasing since the Fall. Just last week, the positivity rate was 6.22%, and Mayor Bill de Blasio reported that this week’s rate has unfortunately increased to 7.07%.

     “2020 isn’t over yet, and neither is this fight,” Mayor de Blasio tweeted today. “Get tested, continue social distancing, and keep each other safe.”

     “The rest of us need to step up, stay united and continue doing what we know works—wearing masks, staying socially distanced and washing our hands," Gov. Andrew Cuomo echoed in a statement yesterday.

Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office