As we approach the end of a year that words can’t begin to describe, there is finally a light at the end of the tunnel. Over the next few weeks the first Americans will be vaccinated and the nightmare that has been the coronavirus pandemic will enter its final chapter. However, with positivity rates and hospitalizations on the rise locally, we need to play our part to limit the impact that the virus will have over these next few months.
The pandemic has taken an enormous toll on our community. Across Nassau County nearly 2,300 people have passed away. Thousands more have fallen ill, with many suffering from long-term consequences from COVID that are not yet fully understood. Businesses and those employed in sectors impacted by economic fallout caused by the virus have taken severe financial hits. All of us continue to struggle as we remain isolated from friends and loved ones and yearn for things to just go back to “normal.”
We do have some very good news, however. Leading American pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and Moderna have developed vaccines in record time. Even better, the vaccines developed by Pfizer and AstraZeneca have shown initial success rates of over 90 percent, far exceeding prior expectations shared by the FDA and other relevant experts. This will mean that a successful distribution plan can end the pandemic once and for all, and avoid a scenario where COVID continues to spread for an untold period of time as many have feared.
Nevertheless, the course that the next few months will take remains very much in flux. Nassau County’s positivity rate increased significantly over the past few weeks and is now hovering around 5 percent. This requires all of us to remain diligent. For one, all of us individually need to do what it takes to avoid further spikes and lockdowns. This means avoiding large indoor gatherings, wearing masks in public places where social distancing is not an option, and complying with CDC recommended quarantine periods if you come in contact with someone who has tested positive for the virus. None of these things are easy, but they are worthwhile and are the least we can do to support first responders and businesses that are struggling to stay open.
We have all heard the testimonials of healthcare professionals describing the horrors that ravaged our hospitals this past spring. Many of us now tragically know those who have passed or have lost loved ones.
We also walk down our streets and see closed storefronts. As a resident of Great Neck Plaza, it is heart-wrenching to see restaurants on Middle Neck Road struggling and mainstays like the Squire movie theater close after nearly a century in business. These things are difficult to swallow. However, remaining resolute and engaging in responsible practices as individuals and safely supporting local businesses can make a tangible impact over these next few months for those who need it.
In addition to sensible individual conduct, we can also benefit from good government policy. Our elected officials within the Town of North Hempstead have done just this. Longstanding initiatives like Project Independence have been retrofitted. This has included the expansion of online programming to bring activities into the homes of residents and has made outdoor activities safe by adjusting walking hours on town beaches or waiving fees for transportation services to limit in-person contacts. Town officials have also championed the Lift Up Local program to help local restaurants and retail establishments utilize outdoor space to help alleviate the strain imposed by the limits on indoor capacity.
On the national scale, another relief package remains elusive. Democrats and Republicans remain deadlocked, fighting over the extent of aid to be extended to state and local governments and liability waivers for businesses. The need for state and local aid is sorely needed in our communities. Of special concern should be the health of the public transit system and the connection of areas like Great Neck, New Hyde Park, Port Washington and Mineola to New York City. The LIRR was facing fiscal troubles before this crisis and with ridership down precipitously this last year, difficult decisions will need to be made without support from the federal government. The ease of access to the city is one of our greatest assets and we will suffer long-term consequences if a comprehensive relief package cannot provide the necessary funds to our public transit system.
All of this is to say that what happens over the next few months will be crucial to how we emerge from the pandemic. All of us need to act responsibly to limit the spread of the virus. If we do the right thing, we can save lives and help our local businesses stay open. Good government policy also matters as big decisions and challenges still remain.
We should all be grateful that better days are within reach. However, to truly show our gratitude, we must remain vigilant to ensure we limit the hardships that are still before us.
Peter Fishkind
Great Neck Plaza
