A wind of rebirth is blowing in the West Village, the bobo district of Manhattan. This Saturday, March 27, the thermometer displays 21 degrees. The terraces, which have flourished along Hudson Street with the health crisis, are packed for “brunch”. Around restaurants, which reopened partially indoors in February, queues, a favorite activity of New Yorkers, have reappeared. Nearby, a small choir rehearses in the open air while a tap dancer entertains passers-by in summer attire.
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A month of revival after the harshness of winter, April was not at all happy last year in the “Big Apple”, where mortuary trucks had appeared in the shadow of overwhelmed hospitals. With the rapid and all-round deployment of vaccines, provided in stadiums, schools, pharmacies and even libraries, the inhabitants are finally renewing their optimism. Nearly 17% of New Yorkers have received two doses of the vaccine and eligibility criteria are to be extended to all adults on April 6.
“The light at the end of the tunnel”
After restaurants, cinemas reopened with restrictions, followed by nightclubs and large sports venues. “It’s the light at the end of the tunnel”, says Karla, a retired teacher she met outside the Javits Center. This huge convention center has been converted into a “vaccinodrome” initially open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, under the supervision of National Guard reservists. At its peak, some 14,000 people received an injection in one day under its huge glass roof.
Almost a year ago to the day, Karla lost her sister to Covid-19. This African-American is now training to become a pastor to help the most vulnerable. « I felt great emotion when I was vaccinated. I thanked the scientists and God for protecting me, she says. Something has changed in New York. We look each other more in the eye than before. We ask more about the health of others. Mistrust is fading ”.
The same goes for Liz Garrow, 65, vaccinated in March. The hospital where she received her second dose sent a taxi to make sure she arrived safely. « On a practical level, nothing changes because we can continue to spread the virus. But on the psychological level, we feel stronger. We start going to restaurants again, going out with friends – vaccinated. Everything becomes possible again ».
Streets still empty of tourists
« Some customers come back after they haven’t been out for a year. Thanks to the vaccine, the level of confidence is higher than even three months ago. Even if some customers remain cautious, more and more people are comfortable eating indoors ”, observes Walid Idriss, owner of the pizzeria Macoletta, met a few hours after receiving his second dose. “When we talk with friends in Europe who have not yet been vaccinated, we say to ourselves that we are lucky to be in United States. It gives energy ”.
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Despite this newfound optimism, the streets of New York City aren’t as buzzing as they used to be, in part due to the lack of international tourists. The authorities also recall that the virus remains a threat, in particular the New York variant B.1.526 detected in November. On average, more than 4,000 new cases have been recorded every day in the past two weeks in the city. Experts speculate that this high level is explained by the circulation of the virus in enclosed spaces, where the mask is not worn.
To make matters worse, making a vaccination appointment is sometimes complicated due to the high demand. In January, 57% of New Yorkers said in a poll that they weren’t going to wait to get vaccinated.
food Bank
In Queens, a borough populated by immigrants hard hit by the virus, the Queens Museum still sees hundreds of people parade each week to its food bank. Among them, Jose Flores and his wife. He works in the building and she is a cleaning lady. Parents of three children, they have been unemployed for months because of the pandemic. « It’s our first time in a food bank, says Jose. The past year has been difficult, but we are in good health. Vaccination makes us optimistic. Better days are looming ».
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