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Most restrictions to be lifted in N.J. | Coronavirus Newsletter

Plus, dogs training to sniff out COVID-19

People gather at the beach in Ocean City, N.J., on Labor Day 2020.
People gather at the beach in Ocean City, N.J., on Labor Day 2020.Read moreLAUREN SCHNEIDERMAN / Staff Photographer

The gist: Garden State residents will soon face fewer coronavirus restrictions. Gov. Phil Murphy announced he will be lifting many of those rules on May 19, just weeks before Memorial Day weekend. Plus, dogs at the University of Pennsylvania Working Dog Center are learning how to sniff out COVID-19, a skill that could come in handy to identify people who are asymptomatic carriers. Read more here.

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

What you need to know:

🍺 New Jersey is launching a “Shot and a Beer” program, which includes a free beer at about a dozen breweries to anyone who gets vaccinated in May. Here is a list of the breweries.

💉 CVS and Walgreens have wasted more vaccine doses than most states combined, according to CDC data.

🛍️ The liveliness of Rittenhouse Square has begun to resemble what it was pre-pandemic, merchants and business advocacy groups say.

😷 How a year of COVID-19 has challenged and changed one West Philadelphia family.

💰 Restaurants are offering signing bonuses to new employees amid a labor shortage.

📰 What’s going on in your county or neighborhood? 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. Sign up here to get those local headlines sent directly to your inbox on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Local coronavirus numbers

📈The Inquirer and Spotlight PA are compiling geographic data on confirmed coronavirus cases, deaths caused by the virus, and vaccinations to curb the spread. Track the latest data here.

New Jersey is lifting many coronavirus restrictions on May 19, just weeks before Memorial Day weekend and the start of the Jersey Shore high-season. Gov. Phil Murphy hopes removing limits on outdoor gatherings and allowing other businesses to open at full capacity as long as people are six feet apart will bring the state closer to a sense of normalcy this summer. Read more here.

Philadelphia researchers are teaching dogs to detect COVID-19, which could be especially useful to sniff out asymptomatic carriers of the coronavirus at airports, sporting events, schools, “pretty much any place you have large gatherings where everyone can go through one door,” said Cindy Otto, director of the University of Pennsylvania Working Dog Center. Read more and see a video of the dogs training here.

Helpful resources

  1. Am I eligible to get vaccinated? Know the requirements for Philly, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.

  2. Where can I get a COVID-19 vaccine in the Philly area? Use our lookup tool.

  3. Here's how to prepare for your vaccine appointment.

  4. What you can do safely once you're fully vaccinated.

  5. Symptoms of COVID-19, flu, common cold, and allergies can overlap. How to tell the difference.

You got this: Eat pizza

Cheesy, saucy, loaded with toppings: We compiled a list of some of the best spots across Philly for all your pizza cravings (plus one in New Jersey). Check it out here.

🍦 Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams is opening two stores in Philadelphia, and we know where they’ll be.

💉 Looking for a close vaccine location? Just text your zip code to 438829 (getvax) or 822862 (vacuna).

📸 Amateur gardeners, retired or those looking for a place to get hands dirty volunteer their time at Meadowbrook Farm in Jenkintown. See photos here.

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

  1. Experts now say it is unlikely the United States will reach “herd immunity,” due to variants and hesitancy about vaccines, the New York Times reports.

  2. The White House is switching from mass vaccination sites to more hyper-local efforts to reach those who are hesitant about the vaccine, POLITICO reports.

  3. The low vaccination rate of police officers suggest widespread hesitancy and risks to public safety, the Washington Post reports.

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