FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM MAY 27, 2021 • THE QUEENS COURIER 41
Queens residents urged to get vaccinated to safely
return to beaches and public pools this summer
BY BILL PARRY
bparry@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
Queens residents are heading back to
the beaches this Memorial Day weekend
following the long COVID-19 winter
as the city is set to reopen all 14 miles
of public surf. Th e public pools will follow
beginning aft er the last day of school
on Saturday, June 26.
“Summer is right around the corner,
and we’re gearing up for an on-time pool
and beach season,” Mayor Bill de Blasio
said. “Th ese beautiful spaces mean so
much to New Yorkers, especially aft er the
year we’ve all had. We’ll continue to follow
health guidance to ensure the safety
of everyone. Stay cool, stay safe and
have fun.”
Councilman Peter Koo, the chairman of
the Committee on Parks and Recreation,
hailed the reopening.
“Our pools and public beaches are hallmarks
of the summer in the city,” Koo
said. “Reopening these cherished spaces
will give New Yorkers a long-awaited
opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors
and public facilities of our city.”
In order for Queens residents to enjoy
the beaches, pools and other community
events, there is a push for them to be
fully vaccinated. Senate Majority Leader
Charles Schumer stood with some of the
city’s most savvy and trusted health content
and tech creators on Sunday, May 23,
to help combat myths and rumors that
have played a role in a recent reduction
in vaccinations across the fi ve boroughs.
“Right now, both data and social media
infl uencers are sounding the alarm to
say: Misinformation is spreading across
the various social media platforms and
it’s keeping too many young people from
getting the very, very eff ective and safe
COVID vaccine,” Schumer said. “We see
these myths on postings, news feeds, and
then it manifests to spur vaccine hesitation.
Th at is why we are here to urge the
feds to hatch a plan to use trusted social
media and tech infl uencers, to help bust
the most vexing myths standing between
young people and their vaccine.”
Schumer was joined by Astoria resident
Huge Ma, who created Turbo Vax
Twitter bot, and other infl uencers to form
a new kind of social media collaboration,
one that goes beyond mainstream
media to reach the platforms of YouTube,
Twitter, Instagram and more, which they
said is what’s needed to overcome misinformation
about the vaccines and the science
behind them.
“Look, a public health challenge like
none other requires social media collaborations
with more trusted infl uencers,”
Schumer said. “Th e feds are doing some
of this, but they need to do much more.
Misinformation and these vaccine myths
can spread as fast as COVID
itself, and the medicine to
beat them are facts being
pumped into the social
media bloodstream.”
Once fully vaccinated,
Queens residents
can gather more safely,
particularly outdoors
on city beaches and at
public pools, without
masks or physical
distancing, according to the latest
guidance from the Centers for Disease
Control.
In neighborhoods that were most
impacted during the height of the
COVID-19 pandemic, the idea of a day
on the beach or relaxing by the pool will
be a fi ne remedy for those who were pent
up in their apartments during the winter.
“Aft er an unprecedented 2020 summer
in New York City, we have a bright season
ahead for families to come together safely
with loved ones,” Councilman Francisco
Moya said. “Access to Fisher Pool in East
Elmhurst and other outdoor pools and
public beaches starting Memorial Day
weekend will support families in adjusting
to a new normal while staying active
and cool on hot summer
days.”
Starting Memorial Day weekend lifeguards
on Rockaway Beach will be on
duty from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day.
Swimming is unsafe and strictly prohibited
at all other times.
“Get ready to make a splash this summer,
New York! Aft er last summer’s unprecedented
challenges, we are so excited to
announce that our outdoor pools and
beaches will be opening on time this season,”
NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell
Silver said. “We want all New Yorkers
to stay cool while keeping safety fi rst.
Remember to only enter the water in designated
areas during lifeguard hours and
continue to follow health and safety guidelines.”
For information regarding the COVID-
19 vaccines and to fi nd appointments
near you, visit
the city’s website at
vaccinefinder.nyc.
gov and the state’s
website at
covid19vaccine.
health.
ny.gov.
summer fun
File photos by Dean Moses
With Rockaway Beach reopening to the public for the summer swimming season in time for Memorial Day weekend, offi cials are urging Queens residents
to be vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus.
/ny.gov
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