What it’s like in Philly’s ‘vaccine deserts’ | Coronavirus Newsletter
Nightly coronavirus updates from The Philadelphia Inquirer.
TL;DR: Philadelphia has eased restrictions on crowd sizes, allowing fans to return to sports stadiums. Meanwhile, New Jersey announced the return of sleep-away camps and wedding receptions for up to 150 people. Although Philadelphia’s COVID-19 vaccine supply is increasing, there are still places that are considered “vaccine deserts,” areas where the desperately needed doses aren’t easily accessible.
— Ellie Silverman (@esilverman11, health@inquirer.com)
What you need to know:
😷 FEMA’s mass coronavirus vaccine clinic in Philadelphia opened Wednesday at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. See photos here.
📚 Pennsylvania teachers and school staff will be eligible and prioritized to be vaccinated starting next week under a plan announced Wednesday by Gov. Tom Wolf.
🦠 New Jersey reported its first cases of a variant that emerged in Brazil. Experts have said these variants only heighten the urgency around the need to vaccinate the population quickly.
💉 Vulnerable immigrants in Philly are scrambling to get vaccinated with few resources or outreach. Meanwhile, polls show vaccine hesitancy is decreasing, but many Republicans remain wary.
📰 What’s going on in your county or neighborhood? We organized recent coverage of the coronavirus pandemic by local counties and Philly neighborhoods mentioned in the stories to make it easier for you to find the info you care about.
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.
Philadelphia eased COVID-19 restrictions on crowd sizes, allowing fans to return to Citizens Bank Park and the Wells Fargo Center. Stadium workers are also eager to return. Meanwhile, New Jersey announced the return of sleep-away camps and wedding receptions for up to 150 people. “As we slowly recover we want people to be able to celebrate the good things,” New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said.
Although Philadelphia’s COVID-19 vaccine supply is increasing, there are still places that are considered “vaccine deserts,” areas that can be close to a mile away from chain pharmacies, health centers, or mass vaccination sites providing the desperately needed doses. One of those areas is South Philadelphia, where Thoai Nguyen, the chief executive of the Southeast Asian Mutual Assistance Associations Coalition (SEAMAAC) is trying to fix the gap. Read more here.
Helpful resources
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.
What to know about face masks, including whether to double up and when it might be time to replace yours.
These principles of social distancing can help you figure out what you can and can’t do.
Here’s how to avoid coronavirus vaccine scams.
You got this: Who gets the third round of stimulus checks
The third round of $1,400 stimulus payments may be coming soon. What are the income caps? Will dependents get checks this time? When will we get our money? Why another round of stimulus checks? Read more here.
😷 If you’ve hit a pandemic “wall,” you’re not alone. Here’s how to cope.
🏠 How to safely visit your grandparents once they’re vaccinated.
👟 Doctors and personal trainers share the safe way to return to exercise after having COVID-19.
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
From the Washington Post: “We may not have to wear masks on planes forever. But should we?”
Some COVID-19 “long haulers,” or those with long-lasting symptoms, said the vaccine is helping them feel better, the Verge reports.
A more-contagious variant of the coronavirus is spreading in Brazil and causing record deaths, the New York Times reports.
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