FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM OCTOBER 29, 2020 • THE QUEENS COURIER 3
Rising COVID-19 cases in Ozone Park still a mystery: Cuomo
BY ROBERT POZARYCKI
rpozarycki@qns.com
@robbpoz
With most every recent COVID-
19 outbreak in New York, Governor
Andrew Cuomo reminded last week
there has always been some commonality
among the patients — such as sharing
the same workspace or attending
the same house party or religious service.
But aft er a recent spike in COVID-19
cases in Ozone Park, up to this point,
state offi cials aren’t sure what caused
the increase.
Ozone Park was added to the central
Queens “yellow zone” aft er experiencing
an uptick in COVID-19 infections.
State Health Commissioner Dr.
Howard Zucker noted during Cuomo’s
Th ursday conference call with reporters
that the area had been adjacent to
the yellow zone previously (it extended
as far south as Woodhaven/Richmond
Hill), and that contact tracers are looking
to fi nd out if there’s “something specifi
c” connecting the Ozone Park cases
to each other.
Gareth Rhodes, a member of the
governor’s COVID-19 Task Force,
explained that Ozone Park was added
to the yellow zone aft er offi cials noticed
“an uptick in positivity in that area over
the last week or two.”
“Th e Ozone Park area would have
independently qualifi ed to fall into one
of our yellow zone areas,” Rhodes said.
But in noticing the uptick, state offi cials
and contact tracers “couldn’t link it back
to any one facility or specifi c event.”
Over the past four weeks, according
to the city Health Department, the positivity
rate in the 11416 ZIP code covering
Ozone Park was 4.81 percent. Th e
statewide positivity rate, as of Oct. 21, is
1.2 percent, with 986 New Yorkers hospitalized
with COVID-19.
Contact tracers are continuing to
investigate the Ozone Park increase, the
governor noted. Th ese investigators are
critical to containing COVID-19 into
clusters and preventing a more widespread
outbreak through community
transmission — something which led
to the massive epidemic in March and
April in New York.
Also during the conference call,
Cuomo slammed the Trump administration
again aft er it was reported that
Secretary of Health and Human Services
Secretary Alex Azar is considering dismissing
Dr. Stephen Hahn, head of the
Food and Drug Administration.
“Th e White House has been unhappy
with the FDA because they’ve been
unwilling to accelerate the approval of
the vaccine, because they want it done
for Election Day,” Cuomo surmised. He
urged Hahn to “save your soul” and to
continue the proper, scientifi c progress
on approving vaccines rather than expediting
approval of a vaccine that may or
may not work.
Cuomo also asserted that the state
REUTERS/Brendan McDermid
would take the lead in managing the
distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine
once it is ready and deemed fi t for public
use. His remarks came a day aft er
Mayor Bill de Blasio announced his
administration’s own plan for providing
the vaccine to New York City residents.
“Th ere is no local role in managing
the vaccine process in the state,” Cuomo
said. “Th e state will have a statewide
plan. Th e localities will be responsible
for fulfi lling their role pursuant to the
state plan. Th ey won’t have a separate
plan or vaccine approval process.”
Mayor issues guidelines on Halloween in NYC
BY ALEJANDRA O’CONNELL-DOMENECH
adomenech@qns.com
@AODNewz
Like everything during the pandemic, Halloween is going
to look diff erent this year.
New York City families can only go trick-or-treating
outdoors this Halloween, Mayor Bill de Blasio said on
Wednesday. And all children wearing costume masks
should still cover their nose and mouths with a cloth face
covering.
“Halloween is happening in New York City and Halloween
will be safe in New York City,” de Blasio said. “As with
everything we have experienced this year, we understand
that it’s not business as usual. But it can go on and it can be
fun and it can be exciting for our youngest New Yorkers.”
Mayor de Blasio advised New Yorkers to forgo indoor
Halloween parties or get-togethers to instead opt for small
group activities while staying six feet apart. New Yorkers
should also leave candy for trick-or-treaters in bowls outside
on stoops instead of placing treats directly into buckets
or bags.
“So, real common-sense things,” de Blasio added. “Let’s
make it safe though – outdoors and safe.” Getty Images
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