COVID Positivity Rates In New York Drop, New Vaccination Sites Continue To Open
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Gov. Andrew Cuomo just announced the lowest single-day COVID positivity rate in New York since Nov. 23.
As vaccinations go up, along with distance from busy holidays, New York State's COVID numbers come down.
The statewide positivity rate dropped to 3.06%, and the positivity rate for New York State has declined for 43 straight days.
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Nationwide, close to 42 million people have received at least one vaccine dose.
A line snaked around the block at a new pop-up vaccination center at Harvest Fields Community Church on East Tremont Avenue in the Bronx. It's one of 13 vaccination locations the state opens this week with a seven-day goal of getting shots into the arms of 3,800 people.
"I brought a book at least," said one woman waiting in line.
"Now we're just hoping that they still have enough vaccine," one man said.
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A snag over the past week has been the weather. Severe storms disrupted shipments and canceled appointments.
New York City, and everywhere else, came into the weekend running low, by some accounts down to fewer than 1,000 doses.
A spokeswoman for Mayor Bill de Blasio tweeted about the city's "entire vaccination effort" coming to a "standstill" caused by weather-related delivery delays.
Officials say all 50 states have been impacted, with 6 million doses delayed due to the weather.
People continue to scramble to get shots, and the "where to get the vaccine" is the most Googled term in America over the past month.
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A new vaccine distribution effort is happening through wholesale giant Costco. The retailer is offering the vaccine in five states, including New York sometime soon.
The Costco stores are awaiting batches of Moderna shots.
As some people roll up their sleeves, they're taking part in a hashtag social media campaign called "This Jab's For You." It's designed to dedicate the hopeful moments of vaccination to loved ones.
Dr. Steven Arsht, an orthopedic surgeon, came up with the campaign as he received his first dose of the vaccine and thought about the recent loss of his brother-in-law, who died at age 58 as he battled COVID.
"I thought about Louis and how much I missed him, and at that time, I thought to myself, 'Louis, this jab's for you,'" Arsht said.
"This Jab's For You" now partners with health care systems, including Mount Sinai, and is gaining an international following as it creates shots of light.
