New York City May Face Full Lockdown as COVID-19 Surge Outpaces Vaccine Rollout, Mayor Says

City May Face Full Lockdown as COVID-19 Surge Outpaces Vaccine Rollout, Mayor Says />

NEW YORK (Sputnik) – New York City could see another full lockdown because it might be overwhelmed by new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, despite the start of vaccinations for the virus, Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Monday.

As of Monday, 5,712 COVID-19 patients were receiving treatment in hospitals across New York State, the state’s governor said, compared to a spring peak of more than 18,000.

Both de Blasio and New York State Governor Cuomo agreed to close indoor dining in New York City from Monday in a move to clamp down on the spike in hospitalizations. They have, however, differed on what it would take to order a full city-wide lockdown.

New York on Monday became the first US state to administer the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine in the United States after a nurse was inoculated with the drug following its approval by the federal government for emergency use.

Moncef Slaoui, the chief adviser to the US COVID-19 vaccine program, said the United States hopes to give out the vaccine, developed by Pfizer under a joint-venture with Germany’s BioNTech, to 100 million Americans by spring 2021.

Sourse: sputniknews.com