When all Pa. and N.J. adults can get vaccines | Coronavirus Newsletter
Plus, a rapid, at-home test could speed reopening, but there are many hurdles
The gist: Vaccines will open to all New Jersey residents 16 and older on April 19, Gov. Phil Murphy announced Monday. The move will put the state in line with Pennsylvania, which will also open eligibility to all adults on April 19. To reopen faster and safely, the world needs a COVID-19 test for people with no symptoms, but the reality is that rapid antigen tests haven’t succeeded so far.
— Kelly O’Shea (@kelloshea, health@inquirer.com)
What you need to know:
🏟️ Philadelphia is allowing the Phillies to host more fans at Citizens Bank Park, increasing capacity from 20% to 25%, to about 11,000 fans. The Wells Fargo Center will also be allowed to increase capacity to 20%, up from 15%.
🍺 A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention detailed a super-spreader event, when four infected young adults — three who felt sick and one who had tested positive the day before — gathered indoors in a small bar in Illinois.
🚗 People who are fully vaccinated will no longer be asked to follow domestic travel restrictions in New Jersey, such as quarantining when arriving in the state, Murphy announced Monday.
🤰Available data shows the COVID-19 vaccines appear to be safe and effective for pregnant women, Anthony Fauci announced during a White House briefing Monday.
📨 Philadelphia Health Commissioner Thomas Farley has said the city’s failed partnership with Philly Fighting COVID was formed “in a hurry.” But more than 200 emails obtained by The Inquirer suggest the city and the organization coordinated for months prior to scandal.
📰 What’s going on near you? We organize recent coverage of the pandemic by local counties and Philly neighborhoods to make it easier for you to find info you care about. Now, you can also get those local headlines sent directly to your inbox by signing up here.
Local coronavirus cases
📈The coronavirus has swept across the Philadelphia region and cases continue to mount. The Inquirer and Spotlight PA are compiling geographic data on tests conducted, cases confirmed, and deaths caused by the virus. Track the spread here.
Vaccines will open to all New Jersey residents 16 and older on April 19, Gov. Phil Murphy announced, saying it was time to make an “aggressive push” to meet the state’s goal of vaccinating most adults by the summer. The move will put the state in line with Pennsylvania, which will also open eligibility to all adults outside Philadelphia on April 19. An additional 700,000 to one million Pennsylvanians became eligible Monday for vaccine under phase 1B, which includes postal service employees, clergy, public transit employees, and those who work in manufacturing. Philadelphia also moved into the next phase of vaccine eligibility Monday, making vaccines available for sanitation workers, maintenance and janitorial staff, utility workers, postal and package delivery workers. The city plans to make all adults eligible by the May 1 deadline imposed by President Joe Biden.
A reliable COVID-19 screening test could be used anytime, anywhere to check people with no symptoms, who account for about 40% of infections and can unwittingly spread the virus, and provide rapid results. Last week, the FDA allowed two previously authorized rapid antigen tests made by Abbott and Quidel to be sold, without a prescription, to screen asymptomatic individuals on a routine basis. The FDA said the tests “will give schools, workplaces, communities and others several options for serial screening tests that are accurate and reliable.” But the reality is that rapid antigen tests haven’t succeeded so far, partly because the tests have not been accurate and reliable for asymptomatic people.
Helpful resources
Am I eligible to get vaccinated? Know the requirements for Philly, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.
Where can I get a COVID-19 vaccine in the Philly area? Use our lookup tool.
Symptoms of COVID-19, flu, common cold, and allergies can overlap. How to tell the difference
Here's how to prepare for your vaccine appointment.
What you can do safely once you’re fully vaccinated.
You got this: Books to read this spring
If reading tastes change with the seasons, spring feels suited to whims and awakenings. Collections of essays by new authors and stories by old favorites are popping up this year. Bold, brainy books about art, science, and history are now in bloom. At least one of these 10 big spring books should have something to suit your mood.
📹 Celebrities from Dolly Parton to Elton John have created viral videos to persuade the vaccine-hesitant. This Penn researcher reviewed the creative messages and shared her favorites.
🦖 From dinosaurs to baby animals, here are the best kids events in Philly this week.
🍾 Is drinking alcohol after getting your COVID-19 vaccine a bad idea? We talked to experts to lay out the answers.
Have a social distancing tip or question to share? Let us know at health@inquirer.com and your input might be featured in a future edition of this newsletter.
What we’re paying attention to
Social isolation due to the pandemic has prompted Japan to name a loneliness minister, The Wall Street Journal reports.
Former Biden and Trump advisers are renewing a push to delay second COVID-19 vaccine doses, as cases spike and variants continue to spread, Stat reports.
Vermont is the first state to give minority residents vaccine priority, Kaiser Health News reports.
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