| This weekend, New Yorkers will gather together once again to celebrate our nation’s independence—a telling sign that we are returning back to the things we love with the ones we love. New York has made great progress in defeating COVID and we will keep fighting the virus by vaccinating New Yorkers. If you haven’t gotten vaccinated yet, I encourage you to do so. And I wish all New Yorkers a safe and happy Fourth of July weekend. PROGRAMMING NOTE: The Coronavirus newsletter will not publish on Monday, July 5. It will resume again on Thursday, July 7. |
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| Photo of the Day: Wishing you a very happy Fourth of July weekend (Photo by Kevin Coughlin) Here’s what else you need to know tonight: 1. COVID hospitalizations rose slightly to 370. Of the 80,956 tests reported yesterday, 411, or 0.51 percent, were positive. The 7-day positivity average was 0.44 percent. There were 86 patients in ICU yesterday, down five from the previous day. Of them, 45 are intubated. Sadly, we lost two New Yorkers to the virus. 2. As of 11am this morning, 72.1 percent of adult New Yorkers have received at least one vaccine dose, per the CDC. Over the past 24 hours, 54,202 total doses have been administered. To date, New York has administered 21,197,633 total doses with 65.4 percent of adult New Yorkers completing their vaccine series. See additional data on the State’s Vaccine Tracker. 3. Public employees cannot penalize employees who use sick leave for COVID-related absences. Today I signed legislation that will protect public employees who use sick leave or compensatory time to quarantine, seek medical treatment, or other leave related to a COVID-19 diagnosis or treatment. This new measure builds on previously signed COVID-related employee protections. 4. Get vaccinated and then enjoy the Fourth of July fireworks this weekend. The New York State Office of General Services and New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation are joining with partners again to celebrate Independence Day with fireworks and events from 6-10pm at the Empire State Plaza, including a pop-up vaccination site. 5. The pop-up vaccine sites at Penn Station and Grand Central Terminal have been extended through July 3. Individuals who get vaccinated at either of these pop-up sites can receive a free MetroCard or two one-way Metro North or LIRR tickets. Tonight’s “Deep Breath Moment”: A 70-year-old Yankees fan fulfilled her childhood dream and was named a bat girl for the team. When Gwen McLoughlin was 10, she wrote to the Bronx Bombers asking to be a bat girl but received a rejection from the team’s manager. This year, McLoughlin’s daughter sent the letter again to the team, and the current general manager wrote back inviting her to be an honorary bat girl—a wish come true for the lifelong fan. Ever Upward, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo |