N.J. vs. Pa. on vaccine rollout | Coronavirus Newsletter

The gist: By most measures, New Jersey is ahead of its neighbor Pennsylvania in its vaccine rollout, my colleagues Allison Steele, Erin McCarthy, and Jason Laughlin report. Read why here. Philadelphians are still looking to travel for fun, but last year’s pandemic shutdowns, and the lack of demand for business and international travel, has hit PHL’s finances hard. Read more about how the pandemic has affected the airport here.

— Ellie Silverman (@esilverman11, health@inquirer.com)

📈 Pennsylvania and New Jersey are experiencing a surge of new COVID-19 cases as variants spread. Cases and hospitalizations are also rising in Philadelphia.

😷 The Black unemployment rate was higher in Pennsylvania than any other state due to the pandemic, according to a report by the left-leaning Economic Policy Institute.

🏥 Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf indicated the commonwealth might move straight to opening eligibility to all adults by May 1, as President Joe Biden directed, and skip over phases 1B and 1C, which include different tiers of essential workers.

🍎 A Chester County father and son found that nearly all grocery produce is uncontaminated by COVID-19.

💉 Rutgers has become the first college in the region — and possibly the nation — to require COVID-19 vaccines for students returning to campus in the fall.

📚 More kids will be eligible to return to Philly schools in late April, district says.

📰 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.

📈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.

By most measures, New Jersey is ahead of its neighbor Pennsylvania when it comes to delivering shots into arms, my colleagues Allison Steele, Erin McCarthy, and Jason Laughlin report. In New Jersey, there is a phone hotline for people without internet access, while Pennsylvania has a website with limited utility that offers only information and no appointments. New Jersey also had mass vaccination sites for months, while Pennsylvania is only now planning them. On Friday, New Jersey announced it will expand vaccine eligibility to all residents 55 an older, as well as adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Pennsylvania is still inoculating residents only in the 1A category —health-care workers, residents over 65, and those with high-risk conditions. But despite discontent in Harrisburg, Gov. Tom Wolf says Pennsylvania’s rollout is going well. Read more about the two states’ rollouts here.

Philadelphians are still looking to travel for fun, just not for business, the Philadelphia International Airport’s CEO Chellie Cameron testified at a City Council committee hearing this week. “A lot of leisure travel is starting to happen, people are starting to make plans as they get vaccinated,” Cameron told members of City Council’s committee on transportation and public utilities. “But we are not seeing business travel come back in any kind of meaningful way.” Last year’s pandemic shutdowns, and the lack of demand for business and international travel, has hit PHL’s finances hard. Read more about how the pandemic has affected the airport here.

Fans can return to Citizens Bank Park on April 1 for the Phillies’ home opener, 550 days since the last time they were allowed at a game. And things might look a little different. There will be zip-tied seats, socially distanced lines for food, and other COVID-19 measures in place throughout the park. Here are the five things you need to know.

🍰 Passover and Easter bring hope and better business for Philly delis and bakeries.

💉 Why you should get a COVID-19 vaccine — even if you’ve already had the coronavirus.

☀️ Conquer these four kinds of fatigue.

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.

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