NYC Coronavirus Vaccinations Restart Wednesday After Winter Blast

New York City NY

02 February, 2021

12:13 PM

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NEW YORK CITY — Most coronavirus vaccinations will restart in New York City on Wednesday as the city digs itself out from the biggest winter storm in years, Mayor Bill de Blasio said. The Nor'Easter had blown through and past the city by the time De Blasio on Tuesday gave a briefing on swiftly daily life could return. De Blasio said COVID-19 vaccine appointments at city-run hospitals already restarted, but most other shots will wait until Wednesday. He said outdoor dining will reopen Tuesday at 3 p.m. and that in-person public school students should be prepare to go back to classes on Wednesday. City sanitation crews will continue their work clearing streets of snow, he said. Alternate side parking will be suspended until Saturday, he said. "We've got more to do, this ball game ain't over," he said. Snowfall from the storm Monday reached up to 19 inches in the Bronx and 17.2 inches in Central Park, according to the National Weather Service and de Blasio. The snow and 45 mph wind gusts created blizzard-like conditions across the city and prompted widespread closures. It's the most significant winter storm since 2016, the New York Daily News reported. The storm's arrival put a damper on the city's COVID-19 vaccination effort, which is going more slowly than officials want because of supply issues. De Blasio said the city still put 823,670 shots into New Yorkers' arms as of Tuesday, with 100,000 of those being made at health department sites. New Yorkers who had appointments canceled at city-run Health + Hospital facilities will be receiving phone calls to reschedule, said Mitchell Katz, the hospital system's CEO. "Our commitment is we don't make new appointments with people until we've taken care of all the people who have to be rescheduled," he said. Likewise, city health Commissioner Dave Chokshi said New Yorkers who had appointments at health department sites soon will receive rescheduling calls.