The Peru Gazette

New Yorkers should be encouraged by the incredible progress they have made to decrease the infection rate and to get vaccinated. More than half of New York’s adults have received at least one dose. Thanks to your hard work, we are continuing to open up even more of our economy. On April 26, movie theater capacity will increase to 33 percent. Low-risk indoor and outdoor arts and entertainment—including museums, aquariums, zoos and botanical gardens—will increase to 50 percent capacity also beginning April 26. Still, this should not be taken as a reason to let our guard down. On the contrary, we should all remain vigilant and continue to practice the behaviors we know work to stop COVID in its tracks—wear a mask, wash hands, social distance but also get vaccinated as soon as you can.

Photo of the Day: The COVID-19 vaccines are safe, effective and free. Book your appointment today: ny.gov/GetVaccinated (Photo by Nina Dudko)

1. COVID hospitalizations rose to 3,783. Of the 147,583 tests reported yesterday, 4,339, or 2.94 percent, were positive. The 7-day average positivity rate was 2.85 percent. There were 836 patients in ICU yesterday, down 13 from the previous day. Of them, 521 are intubated. Sadly, we lost 44 New Yorkers to the virus.

2. As of 11am this morning, 41.7 percent of New Yorkers have completed at least one vaccine dose. Over the past 24 hours, 131,589 total doses have been administered. To date, New York has administered 13,428,920 total doses with 28.4 percent of New Yorkers completing their vaccine series. See data by region and county on the State’s Vaccine Tracker: ny.gov/vaccinetracker.

3. Capacity at arenas and large events will increase on May 19. Spectator capacity will increase to 25 percent at large-scale arenas and event venues, including professional and collegiate sports, and major performances. Social distancing, masks, health screenings and all other health and safety protocols remain in effect.

4. An additional $50 million in funding will go to Nourish NY through the FY 2022 Enacted Budget. Since last year, the Nourish NY initiative has purchased 21 million pounds of surplus agricultural products from New York farmers and delivered to more than 1.3 million households in need across New York State.

Tonight’s “Deep Breath Moment”: Governors Island has some new groundskeeping staff: but they’re not people, they’re sheep. A family of five sheep from Albany arrived on the small island off of lower Manhattan to help control an invasive plant species—by eating it. The use of sheep to manage the non-native plant is an environmentally sustainable solution that will help protect the island’s natural landscape.

Ever Upward,

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo

We know how the virus spreads, so it is simply a question of behavior and precautions if we hope to stop the spread as we vaccinate New York. The more precautions each of us take, the fewer people get infected. We’re at a point now where we’ve communicated all the information that we can communicate and everyone knows the facts. We’ve asked New Yorkers to continue to take the risk seriously, but it is now up to each of us. It’s up to you as an individual, you as a family, you as a community. Our recovery is going to be a function of how many vaccinations we take, and I believe that there is a civic and community duty for each of us to take a vaccine. We’ll only be safe when everyone is safe.

Photo of the Day: The York College NYS-FEMA mass vaccination site administered its 150,000th vaccine today

1. COVID hospitalizations dropped to 3,884, the lowest since November 30. Of the 232,929 tests reported yesterday, 6,555, or 2.81 percent, were positive. The 7-day average positivity rate was 3.04 percent. There were 868 patients in ICU yesterday, down 18 from the previous day. Of them, 543 are intubated. Sadly, we lost 43 New Yorkers to the virus.

2. As of 11am this morning, 40.2 percent of New Yorkers have completed at least one vaccine dose. Over the past 24 hours, 233,973 total doses have been administered. To date, New York has administered 12,872,765 total doses with 27.0 percent of New Yorkers completing their vaccine series. See data by region and county on the State’s Vaccine Tracker: ny.gov/vaccinetracker.

3. Today I signed legislation that will ensure low-income families have access to high-speed internet. The legislation requires that internet service providers offer high-speed internet plans to low-income customers for $15 per month. The pandemic reshaped many norms with remote learning, remote working and telemedicine and we must shape New York to adapt to these new conditions and ensure high-speed internet is available and affordable to every New Yorker.

4. Tickets for the 2021 Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach will go on sale Monday, April 19 at 9am. Event Parking Passes will be required for all three shows beginning with Friday’s practice show on May 28 and culminating with the final show on Sunday, May 30. The $10 per vehicle Event Parking Passes can be obtained from the State Parks’ website. Additionally, 1,800 passes will be distributed to Long Island’s three health care networks to be provided to their frontline health care workers involved in the pandemic response.

Tonight’s “Deep Breath Moment”: A Roslyn, NY high school student is connecting companies to charities to help people in need. Throughout the pandemic, the demand for new clothes spiked as charities stopped accepting used items. The Mia Exchange, started by 17-year-old Mia Sara, donates new clothes from store warehouses to women’s shelters, churches, the Salvation Army and other organizations that provide these new clothes to those in need. We applaud Mia for exemplifying the best of New York’s values.

Ever Upward,

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo