Over 11,000 New Yorkers receive COVID vaccine

Moses Kuwema

New York City Commissioner of Health Dr Dave Chokshi has said 11,152 people in the city have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Dr Chokshi said New York City was making progress in vaccinating its healthcare heroes.

“Despite the snowstorm, all 44 hospitals slated to receive the COVID-19 vaccine had it delivered and began administering it. So far 11,152 people have received their first dose,” he said and continued,

“The vaccine is a light at the end of the tunnel, but it doesn’t make the tunnel any less perilous. We’re seeing continued increases in #COVID19 cases and hospitalizations. Here is how to help stop the spread: mask up, stay home, keep your distance, wash your hands & get tested,” said Dr. Chokshi in a Tweet on Friday.

And speaking Friday during his daily briefing at City Hall, Mayor Bill De Blasio said the city recorded 158 new hospitalizations, 2,805 new cases representing a 6.16 positivity rate for the seven-day-average.

“These numbers are way too high. Your actions make a difference. Don’t give up now. The end of this crisis is in sight,” he said.

And Mayor De Blasio announced changes to the high school and middle school admissions policies to make the process fairer.

He said the changes would see one-year pause on screens for middle school while the geographic priority for high schools will be eliminated over the next two years adding that this would make the schools more inclusive for all students.

“NYC schools is pausing all academic screens for 5th graders applying to middle school and phasing out geographic screens for incoming high schoolers. We need to profoundly change the distribution of resources in NYC, especially when it comes to our students and the COVID-19 crisis,” said Mayor De Blasio.