“I’m not trying to reintegrate, I’m too old,” said Robert Dunn, 89, of the Bronx. “I’m on the fringe. I mean, I go out to the store, and I come back. I don’t socialize very much.”

 Older adults continue to be one of the most at risk populations of becoming ill, hospitalized, or dying from Covid 19. In the U.S., adults 65 and older account for 16% of the population, but 80% of Covid deaths. As of October 4, 2021, there have been 34,284 total Covid deaths total in the city since the start of the pandemic. The majority have been 65 and older.

 “You can see that [the pandemic] wore on [the residents],” said Ivan Arvelo, 50, the manager at Cooper Square Senior Housing in NoHo. “A lot of them are still afraid, a lot of them are still a little passive. There’s a slow reintegration because a lot of people act like Covid isn’t even around anymore.”

 While some seniors find social connection within public places such as senior centers, group classes, or discounted movies, they said they’re uncomfortable re-engaging in these activities.

 “I don’t go into a Sears or any place where there are close people,” said Dunn, of the Bronx. “It’s a big nuisance. I mean, you feel restricted, and you’re not able to live normally.”

 Although 70% of seniors within the city are vaccinated, 28.5% of NYC residents are not.

 “Now, with the lifting of the restrictions, we still are very conscientious,” said Richard Muller, 74, of the East Village. “Even though we’re vaccinated, we wear masks. We don’t understand why people don’t get themselves vaccinated.”

 Muller said that he and his friends are fearful due to fear of transmission from those who are still unvaccinated.

 “I’d say that there’s a sort of a vigilance,” said Muller. “There’s a public concern that some people are not acting responsibly. We’re hopeful, but still cautious because we don’t want to get sick.” 

One in four older adults reported anxiety or depression since the start of the pandemic. Older adults are still recommended to follow current public health guidelines, limiting indoor and in-person social interactions, which contributed and still contributes to isolation among seniors.

“They were isolated for a long time,” said Arvelo. “I mean, isolation is no joke when you’re a senior, and I saw it first hand. They’re more vulnerable and scared that if something does happen to them, they’re the ones that will be impacted the most.”

 While getting out and being social is a problem for New York elders, connecting through technology continues to be challenging as well.

 “I am terrible with technology,” said Amy Weprin, 87, of East Village. “I only use the landline. I have a cell phone, but it stays off.”

 Dunn said that trying to connect through technology is not an option.

 “I don’t even know what [Zoom] is,” said Dunn. “Technology is out of the question. I don’t understand it, and I don’t even try.”

 Arvelo said that he doesn’t think NYC seniors will reintegrate into public life until local herd immunity exists.

 “I think until we get a local herd immunity, that’s when they’re going to really feel safe and start doing the same things they used to do all the time,” said Arvelo. “I think until we have herd immunity they’re not going to want to be around other people.”

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“I’m just here for teachers’ rights,” she said.

Vasquez joined hundreds who marched as part of New York’s ongoing Freedom Rally, a constellation of organizations in opposition to the vaccine mandate, which requires the Department of Education’s roughly 3,000 remaining unvaccinated teachers to have received at least one dose of the vaccine to remain active employees of the city. 

“I love my job. This is so upsetting to me that I’ve dedicated so much of my life – you know, I’m a devoted teacher,” said Vasquez. “Now they’re saying I can’t work unless I get vaccinated.”

Mayor Bill de Blasio estimated that 8,000 of the DOE’s nearly 150,000 school-based employees are out of compliance as of this morning. Vasquez, who teaches at P.S. 372 and has over 20 years of classroom experience, believes she should be able to use her sick and personal days to remain on payroll, since she claims to only use either in extreme circumstances. As of Monday, she’s on unpaid leave. 

Early last month, an independent arbitrator ruled that New York City teachers with qualified medical or religious exemptions must either be offered non-classroom assignments, a severance package, or be placed on unpaid leave that continues to provide them healthcare coverage. 

“I feel like if we’re practicing all these safety protocols, then the teachers will be fine,” said Vasquez. “It’s the children that are getting Covid, so I feel like it should be up to me. I’d rather get it and develop my own antibodies than have what they call a vaccine.” 

Last Friday, Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor declined to hear an attempt to block New York City’s vaccine mandate, giving the city the green light to require employees to have received one Covid-19 vaccination dose by 5 p.m.

By the end of the day Monday, 95% of full time employees had received at least one shot, including 96% of teachers and 99% of principals. Since the mayor’s mandate was announced in August, 43,000 injections have been administered, including 18,000 in the past 10 days. The United Federation of Teachers (U.F.T.) announced on Monday that a 1,000 teachers had been vaccinated over the weekend to remain on the district’s payroll. 

While the city claims to have thousands of substitute teachers and paraprofessionals waiting in the wings to supplant employees, many, including the U.F.T., are highly skeptical that the plan in place will adequately address their absence. U.F.T. estimates that two-thirds of public schools could face disruptions resulting from staff shortages. 

Garrett Ramirez is a paraprofessional with Energy Tech High School in Queens and a member of the steering committee for Teachers for Choice, an organization in opposition to New York City’s vaccine mandate. With 15 years of experience, Ramirez can understand why some of his peers are capitulating to the city’s mandate, though he would only consider getting vaccinated after clinical trials conclude near the end of 2022 or the beginning of 2023.  

“Unfortunately, some teachers are being coerced, some of them are caving in, in order to preserve their jobs and income for their families,” said Ramirez. 

With appearances from Founder Michael Kane on outlets such as Fox News and a petition with a running total of 52,000 signatories,Teachers for Choice is bolstering support and digging in their heels. A restraining order was filed yesterday morning in the ongoing Kane vs de Blasio in an effort to stop the vaccine mandate from being implemented. 

Kane vs de Blasio, originally filed in federal court on September 21, challenges the Department of Education’s mandate as ‘immoral and illegal.’ The lawsuit claims that the mandate violates fundamental constitutional rights by ‘discriminating on the basis of religion and medical status’ and ‘places unconstitutional conditions of employment.’ 

“They’ve (the D.O.E.) denied almost all the religious exemptions and all, almost all of the medical exemptions,” said Ramirez, who was denied a religious exemption himself. “Religious exemptions are supposed to be based upon personal religious convictions, not upon an established church. It actually violates the establishment clause in the first amendment to apply that criteria.”

Ramirez plans to apply for a medical exemption next, this time seekling to qualify as having natural immunity.  

“The science of natural immunity is kind of overwhelming,” said Ramirez, noting a peer-reviewed article from the British Medical Journal and research by Johns Hopkins surgical oncologist Dr. Marty Makary as evidence. “I have recovered from Covid-19, I’ve tested positive for antibodies twice. Antibodies are only the tip of the iceberg as far as natural immunity goes.”

While much is still unknown about the durability of either vaccine or natural immunity, a study released in August from CDC found that vaccination offers higher protection than previous Covid-19 infection, noting that the unvaccinated have 2.34 times the odds of reinfection as the vaccinated. Dr. Makary’s colleague, the infectious disease expert Dr. Anna Durbin, cited research from Johns Hopkins Center for Immunization Research that estimated those odds even higher, at 2.5 times as likely for reinfection. 

And while New York City remains an area at ‘high risk of transmission’ with an average of 1,662 cases per day over the last week, city data available for the year through the end of August shows remarkably strong protection for the vaccinated. Just 0.33% vaccinated individuals have contracted the virus and 96.9% of those hospitalized were unvaccinated at the time of their hospitalization.  

Ramirez is optimistic that Kane vs De Blasio will prove the vaccine mandates are unconstitutional. He is considering all his options, like transitioning to virtual teaching or moving out of the city. 

“At the end of the day, these mandates are really intimidation tactics,” said Ramirez. “It’s an act of psychological terrorism, frankly. I’m not going to succumb to it, and I don’t think that anyone should.”

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“I want to get rid of this constant undercurrent of ‘everything’s different right now,’’” said Gilbert, a longtime New York City resident living in Prospect Heights, Booklyn. “We have to be aware of so many things right now. I mean it gets exhausting, just kind of tiring mentally.”

As the federal government and pharmaceutical companies race towards a vaccine for COVID-19, Americans have mixed emotions about it. A large part of that comes from conflicting information from different sources.

“I just simply don’t know what to think about a vaccine at all,” said Domanik, a pastor at Falls Church in Menomonee Falls, Wis. “Because I’m just hearing a lot of different things from a lot of different news outlets.” 

Trish Gilbert, a longtime New York resident plans to see what side effects a COVID-19 vaccine could have on seniors. Photo Courtesy of Trish Gilbert

For Gilbert, a recent pledge by nine drug companies to ‘stand by science’ gave her comfort that once the vaccine is released to the public, that it would be safe. Yet she was hesitant to be first in line, citing potential side effects for older people as a cause for concern.

“I would probably wait until a friend of mine who is a senior person at a big pharmaceutical company tells his parents to go ahead and get the vaccine,” Gilbert said. “And then I would think, ‘all right, I can trust it.’ Because it’s so hard to know what the facts are when you’re just reading the newspaper and so many people are manipulating science for political ends on the right and on the left.”

Domanik was more concerned about how the vaccine would be distributed. He wanted to be sure that vaccination would be done right the first time.

“I just want to know what the actual plan is in terms of its release,” Domanik noted. Adding, “I want it to be administered and distributed right. I want it to be safe. I want it to be ethical. I want it to be quick, expedient, and I want it to be easy for the public to get.”

For Tay, a Singaporean living in New York for the last three years, his Christian faith gave him a sense of calm while he waits for the vaccine to come.

“There is peace and that peace is the one that is usurping the anxiety and therefore gives me hope, which is a great

Tony Domanik, a pastor in Wisconsin, wants a vaccine to be distributed fairly. Photo Courtesy of Tony Domanik

thing, said Tay. “Otherwise I may have euthanized myself a few weeks ago.”

Gilbert noted that far from being the “great equalizer” as Madonna predicted back in March, COVID-19 has disproportionately affected minorities and people of lower income.

“If anything, it has accentuated, it’s made more apparent what the cruel inequity is in our country rather than equalizing,” Gilbert said. “You go to the Upper East Side, and it’s practically empty because people just decamped to their summer homes and weekend homes just to keep themselves safe. Whereas if you’re living in a dense neighborhood, densely populated and you have more people than maybe would be ideal in any living space, you can’t social distance.”

Tay has found the lockdown to be a time of personal renewal, and has gained an increased awareness of the needs of others, and a desire to be kinder.

“I think there’s a lot of good things that have come out of COVID,” Tay said. “People being kinder and me as a Christian also acknowledging that there are people of different faiths, backgrounds, different walks of life. And with the racial debate and predicament that we find ourselves in just makes me as an individual want to embrace and be kinder to people more than before.”

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“There is a race between companies in the United States and between countries to have a vaccine ready,” said Anna Williams, a graduate of Rutgers University-Newark and community organizer. “It is sad to see the level of mistrust Americans have in their government.” 

Williams claims that the reason why President Trump is rushing the process of  a vaccine by election day is for him to take credit for it. If he can speed up the vaccine before the election, then it’s a political win. And she won’t take it.

“I do not trust his medical scientific background that he does not have,” she said. “He has shown us time-and-time-again that he doesn’t take science and facts to the degree he needs to. I would rather listen to scientists, epidemiologists and those who are working on a vaccine. They are the main voices and sometimes there is too much focus given to what Trump thinks and says.”

When choosing whether to take a vaccine or not, Zahra Hussein, a junior at Rutgers-Newark, believes that it is ultimately up to us to decide–not Trump or the FDA.  

“As long as I do my research and I feel confident with the results I come up with, I see no harm in taking the vaccine, it is a risk worth pursuing,”Hussein negated. “It is clear who is in the lead of the presidential race–the virus.” 

 According to a recent poll by National Public Radio, just 49% of Americans now say they will get vaccinated when one is made available; 44% say they won’t.

As a trilingual contact tracer for the Newark Department of Health and Community Wellness, Desiree Roquetti believes that the possibility of having an effective vaccine soon is highly unlikely due to the various trials it must undergo. 

“The release of a vaccine on or before election day will not be safe to the public” Roquetti said. “The fact of the matter is, a vaccine will not be available until late 2021.” 

A vaccine’s success only depends on a phase 3 trial since it can establish whether a vaccine is safe and effective enough to be approved for widespread use. 

Eman Odeh, a senior at Rutgers-Newark thinks Trump is making a terrible mistake. His  insistence on a vaccine is his attempt to establish trust with the American people and earn their vote by election day. She says the outcome can go either way. 

“It is a very strategic step on Trump’s part,” Odeh said. “If he does come through with one, you will likely see more people who were not planning on voting for him–or not voting at all for that matter– to cast their vote for Trump.” 

What would be a game changer for Odeh is if the FDA approves a vaccine before election day. 

“It makes a big difference for me if the FDA comes forward with a vaccine, I would take it,” says Odeh. “If it was Trump on the other hand, I cannot, in good faith, take chances with my health.” 

The recent unfolding of events has Odeh not hopeful of the path the United States is headed down.

“I don’t see much reform, I don’t see much improvement in many sectors of the country, like there used to be,” said Odeh. “ Right now, if we want change, it needs to be radical.”

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 Patients who have taken remdesivr, have shown improvement in their condition over a quicker period of time.

 “Remdesivr has a clear cut significant positive effect in diminishing the time to recovery,” Fauci said at a corporate executive meeting at the White House.

 According to the New York Times, Remdesivr could be the first drug to be approved for the treatment of the coronavirus by the Food and Drug Administration, as there are no alternative drugs that have proven to be effective in treating the virus.

 The news of the treatment drug has sent positive signals to investors, with the S&P 500 gaining almost 3% in shares.

 Despite this, the World Health Organization has not yet made comments on the drug, saying that it is too early to see whether or not it will be effective in treating the virus.

Florida will reopen on Monday

 Governor Ron DeSantis plans to reopen Florida on Monday with hard-hit regions including Miami Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties remaining in lockdown.

 “The only thing we have to fear is letting fear overwhelm our sense of purpose and determination,” DeSantis said.

 The governor believes that the best way forward is to reopen the state in phases. The first phase, which will be executed on Monday, allowing small businesses such as restaurants and retail stores to operate at 25 percent indoor capacity. Schools will remain remote, visits to age care centers will still be prohibited. Bars, gyms, and other social venues will remain closed.

 Florida currently has almost 35,000 confirmed cases, and their testing still lags behind nationally.

 In contrast, New York, one of the worst-hit states by the coronavirus, does not plan to reopen until 30 percent of hospital beds and ICU beds are available after elective surgeries resume and that there is no significant increase in hospitalization and diagnostic testing around the state.

 Bill de Blasio causes outrage amongst the Jewish community in New York City

 New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio sparked outrage amongst the Jewish community in the city after condemning Hasidic funeral-goers on twitter for failing to follow social distancing guidelines.  About 2,500 ultra-Orthodox Jewish men were mourning the death of  Rabbi Chaim Mertz. They stood shoulder to shoulder and did not practice social distancing guidelines.

 “My message to the Jewish community, and all communities, is this simple: the time for warnings has passed. I have instructed the NYPD to proceed immediately to summons or even arrest those who gather in large groups. This is about stopping this disease and saving lives. Period,” the Mayor said on twitter.

 In response to the tweet, The Orthodox Jewish Public Affairs Council called the mayor bigoted for generalizing and pointing fingers at an entire community over the mistakes of the mourners.

 “Even if no leader took a stance, it is bigoted to generalize a community; especially the same day that thousands of New Yorkers failed to social distance to watch a flyover.” The OJPAC said in a tweet.

Hey @NYCMayor, there are 1mil+ Jewish people in #NYC. The few who don’t social distance should be called out — but generalizing against the whole population is outrageous especially when so many are scapegoating Jews. This erodes the very unity our city needs now more than ever. https://t.co/jcYO9QQred

— Jonathan Greenblatt (@JGreenblattADL) April 29, 2020

 The Mayor  later apologized for his tweet during a press conference.

“People’s lives were in danger before my eyes and I was not going to tolerate it,” he said. “I regret if the way I said it in any way gave people a feeling of being treated the wrong way, that was not my intention. It was said with love, but it was tough love, it was anger and frustration.”

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