What Philadelphians are looking forward to | Coronavirus Newsletter
Plus, it’s too soon to declare herd immunity against COVID-19. Here’s why.
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The gist: We asked Philly-area residents how things have been going and what they’re looking forward to. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott caused a stir recently when he said his state was “very close” to achieving herd immunity against COVID-19. Could he be right? The short answer, in most places: probably not yet.
— Kelly O’Shea (@kelloshea, health@inquirer.com)
What you need to know:
💉 In Philadelphia and across the region, all adults age 16 and older are now eligible to schedule an appointment for a COVID-19 vaccine. New Jersey expanded eligibility on Monday, the last state in the region to open up vaccinations to all adults.
📱 COVID-19 vaccine interest among Generation Z has dropped in recent months, according to new polls. Communication experts say hesitancy among those born between 1997 and 2012 may be affected by the dearth of public health messaging on the platforms they use most — social media.
📉 Pennsylvania reported 1,941 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, the fewest new cases in a single day in nearly a month amid a rise in new infections.
🩸 Anthony Fauci indicated Sunday that the government will likely move to resume use of Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine this week, possibly with restrictions after reports of some very rare blood clot cases.
🏊 Philadelphia is bracing to open 68 outdoor pools this summer, following last year’s dry reprieve. But it will need all the lifeguards it can get.
📰 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.
More than a year into the pandemic, most people just can’t wait for it to be over. We asked Philly-area residents how things have been going and what they’re looking forward to. Many of your neighbors’ last pre-pandemic memories involved dining out, birthday parties, and other gatherings that we didn’t hesitate to attend before. Baking, puppy training, and photography were among the new skills and hobbies Philadelphians picked up during the pandemic. The top response we received to the question of what people are looking forward to? Sharing a hug with family and friends. The stories shared are some of the ones that affected us the most, and we hope these stories resonate with you, too.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott caused a stir recently when he said his state was “very close” to achieving herd immunity against COVID-19. Could Abbott be right? The short answer, in most places: probably not yet. And it might not even be the correct question to ask. Among the key remaining questions: How is natural immunity different from the level of protection that comes with a vaccine? And how long does each type of immunity last? In a very small way, my colleague Tom Avril helped researchers start to solve this puzzle last year, pricking his finger and sending in a blood sample for an antibody study at the National Institutes of Health. Thousands of other volunteers across the country did so, too, and the results are in, providing a preliminary estimate of how many have been infected with the coronavirus.
Helpful resources
Where can I get a COVID-19 vaccine in the Philly area? Use our lookup tool.
Here's how to prepare for your vaccine appointment.
How can I get to Philly’s mass vaccination clinics? Use our transportation guide.
What you can do safely once you're fully vaccinated.
Symptoms of COVID-19, flu, common cold, and allergies can overlap. How to tell the difference.
You got this: Post-vaccine activity safety guide
Once you’re fully vaccinated, what activities are considered “safe” to resume? To help guide you, my colleague Grace Dickinson asked seven local experts to rank everyday activities — like going to the gym, shopping, taking an Uber, and more — from low to high risk.
🐐 From painting goats to naturepalooza, here are the best kids events in Philly this week.
🎼 The Philadelphia Orchestra is hosting a free concert for frontline pandemic workers at the Mann and will be broadcast at a later date.
👪 There’s a real Talula behind Talula’s Table, and a Sabrina at Sabrina’s Cafe. Here are other Philadelphia restaurants named after children of owners.
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
As more Americans are inoculated, a tiny but growing number are contending with the disturbing experience of getting COVID-19 despite having had the shot, Kaiser Health News reports.
The U.S. government invested $800 million in plasma when the country was desperate for COVID-19 treatments. A year later, the program has fizzled, The New York Times reports.
A watchdog group found that the chaotic federal effort to bring Americans home at start of pandemic created “health and safety risks,” The Washington Post reports.
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