Another FEMA vaccine site coming to Philly | Coronavirus Newsletter

The gist: A second vaccination site run by FEMA will open next week at Esperanza Academy Charter High School in North Philadelphia, and will deliver between 1,500 and 2,500 vaccinations per day, city officials announced Monday. Emergency department visits dropped by more than a third when the pandemic started to hit the region last year, and they still have not recovered fully.

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

💉 Vaccine eligibility in New Jersey expanded Monday to include certain frontline workers. It will expand to all residents 55 and older next week.

📈 CDC director Rochelle Walensky warned of “impending doom” as COVID-19 numbers are on the rise nationwide. Cases and hospitalizations are also rising in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.

🦠 Chester County launched a new vaccine registration system that will help get 1A residents who want a shot scheduled for an appointment by the state’s Wednesday deadline.

😷 Inside Pennsylvania’s race to expand who’s eligible for the coronavirus vaccine.

❌ As Americans scramble to get vaccinated, many rural, conservative Pennsylvanians feel no urgency.

🏥 Medical providers are still struggling to convince some workers to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

📰 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.

A second vaccination site run by FEMA will open next week at Esperanza Academy Charter High School in the Franklinville section of North Philadelphia, and will deliver between 1,500 and 2,500 vaccinations per day, city officials announced Monday. “This new vaccination center is particularly important because it will allow us to better reach under-vaccinated populations, particularly residents of color in Franklinville and surrounding communities,” Mayor Jim Kenney said in a news release. Read more here.

When COVID-19 infections hit the region last spring, emergency department visits dropped by more than a third, and they still have not recovered fully. Experts worry how many of these lost visits were from people who are postponing medical attention due to fear of the coronavirus, leading to worsening illnesses or even death. Read more here about the impact of COVID-19 on ER visits at area hospitals.

Pound cake is a holiday tradition for many people, leading to lines out the doors of bakeries across the region every Easter. If you’re still looking to pick up pound cake for your family, there are numerous places in the region still taking preorders. Here is a list of bakeries that also have walk-up options through at least Saturday, and a few that are open on Easter Sunday, too.

🏠 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has extended a national ban on evictions that was set to expire March 31. Check out our guide to tenants’ rights in Philadelphia.

🎭 The Kimmel Center plans to reopen this fall with Hamilton, and major arts groups back on stage. Read more here about what shows may be coming to Philadelphia.

🎥 The Godzilla vs. Kong director is hoping his monster smackdown is the catharsis we could use right now

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