Cuomo Lifts Curfews as NY hits 10 Million Doses, Cases Spike & Venues Reopen

Cuomo Lifts Curfews as NY hits 10 Million Doses, Cases Spike & Venues Reopen: Governor Andrew Cuomo issued New Rules for New York Businesses today, immediately lifting the 11 p.m. curfew that had been in place for casinos, movie theaters, bowling alleys, billiards halls, gyms and fitness centers. Meanwhile, the 11 p.m. curfew for bars and restaurants and the 12 a.m. curfew for catered events will have to wait for further evaluation in late April.

Ten Million Doses Down – Twenty Million to Go

As all New Yorkers become eligible for the coronavirus vaccine this week, over ten million doses of the coronavirus vaccine have been administered in New York state. One-third of all New Yorker’s have now received at least one dose of the vaccine and one-fifth of New Yorker’s have received both doses. With approximately sixteen million people to vaccinate according to US Census estimates, less the approximately 1.9 million New Yorkers who have tested positive for the virus, and assuming every New Yorker receives the vaccine that means the state has another twenty million doses to administer.

According to Governor Andrew Cuomo, New York administered 1.4 million doses last week. At that rate it would take another approximately fourteen weeks to vaccinate all New Yorkers which would take us to June 12. That’s assuming New York’s supply can keep pace with its capacity to administer the vaccine.  The state currently has approximately 1.6 million doses on hand and has received a supply of 800,000 doses per week over the past two weeks. If the supply remains constant at those levels, it will take another twenty-three weeks to vaccinate every New Yorker, which would take us to August 30. That means, ignoring the topic of herd immunity and the issue of people reluctant to take the vaccine, that by the beginning of the next school year the vaccinate process could be complete.

Concerns Mount over New COVID Spike

Meanwhile concerns mount that another COVID surge may be currently in the making as the B 1.1.7 variant threatens a third wave in Europe. CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky cautioned on Monday that COVID-19 cases have increased each of the past four weeks. Naturally because over 70% of people over 65, according to the CDC,  have received at least one dose of the vaccine, new cases are beginning to skew toward younger people. All this speaks to why the CDC has continued to stress the importance of continuing safety measures such as wearing masks, washing hands and practicing social distancing.

That said, according to the Coronavirus Resource Center at Johns Hopkins University, last week’s positivity rate for the United States of 4.7%,  about average for March numbers which ranged between 3.9% and 5.4%. The peak of the so-called second wave reached as high as 13.6% in January and the pandemic peak was 22.8% one year ago. Further new COVID cases last week in the US ranged between between 37,000 and 73,000 on a daily basis – well below peak  January’s numbers that were consistently over 200,000 with a peak of more than 295,000.

Westchester Positivity Rate Holds Steady as A Bevy of Local Re-openings Are Announced

As we watch concerns over new variants play out over the next several weeks cultural and entertainment venues continue to announce reopening in our area as Westchester’s positivity rate continued to run below national averages at approximately 3.6%. On Monday, the Bedford Playhouse announced it will reopen on May 28th (Memorial Day weekend) with mandatory mask covering requirements, increased cleaning and disinfecting procedures, staggered showtimes, auditorium capacity limitations of 33% and cafe capacity limitations at 50%. The Jacob Burns Film Center previously announced it will reopen on April 30. And Lasdon Park opened it’s Glass House Conservatory on March 26 with a new exhibition Magic of Spring featuring over 200 plant species including Cherry, Lime, Lemon and Grapefruit Trees, Norfolk Island Pines, ferns, pothos, philodendrons, daffodils, tulips, hyacinths, pansies and ranunculus that will run through April 18. And the White Plains BID announced last week that its Wings Weeks will return this week.

Lyndhurst Mansion also announced last week it will reopen on April 30 when the Spring Crafts Fair, produced by ArtRidge, returns with 150 artisan and crafts booths – fifty percent capacity compared to it’s usual 300 booths. And landscape tours will begin on May 7 – though there is no word on reopening house tours. Boscobel, overlooking the Hudson River, Constitution Marsh and the US Military Academy at West Point, has already reopened its 68 acres of gardens and grounds. A limited supply of tickets are currently on sale for two hours of outdoor access time for picnicking, strolling the grounds with its apple orchard, formal garden and herb garden or hiking its one-mile forest trail with river views. The New York Botanical Garden’s 251 acre grounds will open on April 10 for their first exhibition since the pandemic began, Kusama: Cosmic Nature that feature spectacular installations of her multifaceted art, including monumental floral sculptures. Additionally, the Stone Barns Center for Food & Agriculture opened its new Gallery Space with its first exhibition featuring seven artists, all of whom have made unique and functional works that embrace materials from the Stone Barns farm.

Boscobel Reopens Grounds as NY VAX Efforts Roll Along