In this neighborhood of Queens, the fear of catching the coronavirus is still noticeable. Images that contrast with Governor Andrew Cuomo’s announcement that the state of emergency due to the pandemic in the state will end today, Thursday, after 15 months of validity.
“It seems that the gentleman has never proven what the covid is, neither his family nor he. He is not God to say that this is over,” said a neighbor about the governor’s decision.
And it is that according to state indicators only 0.36% of the covid tests come out positive, while the numbers have remained down continuously for 79 days.
Even so, some neighbors are concerned that new variants of the virus could cause new infections.
“I think it is still very early, because they see that they are with this variant that arrived, that it is still strong that there are still dead,” added another neighbor.
This announcement is a legal and administrative formality, since since the beginning of the month the last restrictions had been removed, such as the limitations on the number of people attending restaurants and stadiums, as well as the rules of distancing.
Of course, the state government asks to respect the CDC’s recommendation to use masks in public transport and hospitals.
But in Jackson Heights the vast majority of residents use the mask even in outdoor spaces and businesses still ask for the use of facial protection and distancing.
“It’s not going to normalize for so long, I think wearing the masks is normal for most of the people,” said a young neighbor.
In Queens, 72% of adults have already received at least one dose of the vaccine and 65% are already fully vaccinated. But for those who have not yet been immunized, fear remains latent.
“I worry because I am a mother. Imagine, if I got it and my child? I come with my son and hug him, my son is two years old,” said the mother.
With the end of the state of emergency, the possibility of restaurants and bars to sell cocktails and alcoholic drinks to take away or home is also ending.
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