Health & Fitness
Rockland Coronavirus Update: Restrictions Relaxed
With the vaccine supply increasing, the age limit is dropping and rules will ease for the county health department and restaurants.
ROCKLAND COUNTY, NY — Now that 20 percent of Rockland residents have received a dose of coronavirus vaccine, county officials are welcoming the news that local restaurants will be able to expand to 75 percent capacity starting March 19.
That's not all that's being relaxed.
With the coronavirus vaccine supply increasing, state officials continue to make more people eligible — as of Wednesday, the age limit drops to 60.
Find out what's happening in New Cityfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
They've also changed restrictions on who can be vaccinated where.
- Starting Wednesday, pharmacies may begin vaccinating teachers and people over the age of 60.
- Starting March 17, other providers will be able to vaccinate any eligible New Yorker.
The rule change releases local health departments and hospitals from their initial responsibilities: hospitals in charge of vaccinating health care workers, local health departments with vaccinating essential workers and people with comorbidities, and pharmacies with giving shots to New Yorkers 65 years of age and older.
Find out what's happening in New Cityfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
"Pharmacies still will only be doing 60-plus and teachers," Gov. Andrew Cuomo said at a coronavirus briefing Tuesday. "Why? Because the pharmacies, it's not as easy for them to identify different types of workers, etcetera. They can identify age, because age you can identify by just a driver's license. And President Biden, rightfully so, has made teachers a priority. So, pharmacies will do 60+ and teachers. We want to get those schools open. Every other site will be doing every other person who is eligible."
Increased access to the vaccine doesn't mean that the pandemic is over. There are 40 people hospitalized in the county with COVID-19 and the death toll inched up to 898. County health officials are monitoring 1,745 active cases.
Rockland politicians have been calling on the state for weeks to allow the county's Department of Health to vaccinate seniors. Rockland's Office for the Aging has a waitlist of residents age 65+. Two weeks ago more than 11,000 people were on it. SEE: Rockland Opens Emergency Ops Center To Help Seniors With Vaccine
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