12 DECEMBER 30, 2021 RIDGEWOOD TIMES WWW.QNS.COM
The party goes on, for now
To the best of our knowledge, New
York City hasn’t been hit by anything
quite like the omicron variant
of COVID-19 in decades — and that’s
saying something.
When the original form of the virus
arrived here in March-April 2020, it
unleashed a devastating and lethal impact
that brought normal life to a virtual
standstill. At its peak, the city saw close
to 6,000 infections in a single day.
On the other hand, omicron has been
in New York City for about a month, and
it’s now infecting more than 10,000 New
Yorkers every day. This variant moves
fast and infects every host it can, vaccinated
and unvaccinated.
But nothing’s being shut down even
as omicron makes the rounds through
the city at “the most wonderful time
of the year,” when Christmas and New
Year’s parties abound, and people gather
together to celebrate the season.
Midnight Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral,
for instance, went on Christmas
Day without a hitch, as masked worshippers
celebrated the holiest of holidays on
the Christian calendar.
EDITORIAL
THE HOT TOPIC
STORY:
LaGuardia Airport’s new $4 billon
Terminal B wins prestigious
UNESCO award
SUMMARY:
LaGuardia Airport’s new Terminal
B has won the prestigious 2021 Prix
Versaille, the global architecture and
design award, for best new airport
in the world.
REACH:
22,519 (as of 12/27/2021)
ESTABLISHED 1908
Co-Publishers
VICTORIA SCHNEPS-YUNIS
JOSHUA SCHNEPS
Editor-in-Chief
ZACHARY GEWELB
Classified Manager
DEBORAH CUSICK
Assistant Classified Manager
MARLENE RUIZ
Reporters
ANGELICA ACEVEDO
CARLOTTA MOHAMED
JULIA MORO
BILL PARRY
© 2021 SCHNEPS NY MEDIA, LLC.
General Publication Office: 38-15 Bell Blvd.,
Bayside, NY 11361
TELEPHONE: 1-718-260-4535
FAX: 1-718-224-5441
E-MAIL: editorial@ridgewoodtimes.com
WEB SITE: www.qns.com
ON TWITTER @ridgewoodtimes
PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY
FOR 110 YEARS
COMPOSITION RESPONSIBILITY: Accuracy in receiving
ads over the telephone cannot be guaranteed. This
newspaper is responsible for only one incorrect insertion
and only for that portion of the ad in which the error
appears. It is the responsibility of the advertiser to make
sure copy does not contravene the Consumer Protection
Law or any other requirement. TIMES NEWSWEEKLY Is
Listed With The Standard Rate & Data And Is A Member
Of The New York Press Association
If we keep getting vaccinated, getting booster shots, masking up inside and staying home when symptomatic,
we can get Omicron and COVID-19 under control, and keep the city moving. Photo via Getty Images
And still to come is the biggest holiday
through this pandemic.
party of them all — the ball drop in Times
But there is one encouraging fact
Square on New Year’s Eve. Though scaled
about this wave of COVID-19 cases that
back signifi cantly because of omicron,
stands against that argument: The reduced
the party is set to go on with thousands
hospitalization rate.
of people — all required to be masked and
Far fewer New Yorkers are being
vaccinated — welcoming in 2022.
hospitalized, blessedly, this time around.
Plenty of New Yorkers may say this
Vaccines are doing their job, reducing
is madness and we need to rein activity
the severity of illness among those with
in again until the omicron storm passes.
breakthrough infections. Monoclonal
It’s a valid argument to make, given the
antibodies and other treatments have
scientifi c evidence and all we’ve been
also proven eff ective at saving lives.
As long as the hospitals can handle
an influx of COVID-19 cases, there’s
no reason to retreat back into capacity
and activity restrictions. The situation,
however, is fl uid because it depends on
what we do.
If we keep getting vaccinated, getting
booster shots, masking up inside and
staying home when symptomatic, we can
get omicron and COVID-19 under control,
and keep the city moving.
It truly is up to us.
/WWW.QNS.COM
/www.qns.com
link
/www.qns.com
link
