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Editorial: Happy New Year Now Let's Work Together To End The Pandemic
Monday, January 4, 2021 at 12:03AM 
From Smithtown Matters to you HAPPY NEW YEAR! A big welcome to 2021.
Now let’s work together to end the pandemic.
2020 has been a challenging year for everyone. If COVID-19 hasn’t directly impacted you or your family congratulations! My hope is that you maintain this good fortune throughout 2021.
Don’t let your guard down, wear a mask, wash your hands often and maintain distance from others.
Fatalities in Suffolk County are increasing. As of this afternoon, Suffolk County has reported 2,341 deaths since the pandemic began in 2020. According to Johns Hopkins’ Coronavirus Resource Center there have been 351,453 deaths from COVID-19 in the United States alone and 1,842,590 deaths worldwide.
The public has a right to expect COVID-19 vaccinations to be delivered in a way that is strategic and honest. Most people understand and support the policy that those most at risk will receive the vaccine first. Governor Cuomo has announced, “The state is expanding the priority populations eligible to receive a vaccine to include urgent care center employees, individuals administering COVID-19 vaccines, including local health department staff, and residents of the Office of Addiction Services and Supports’ congregate facilities. Vaccines will continue to be distributed for high-risk hospital workers, federally qualified health center employees, EMS, coroners, medical examiners, funeral workers and residents and staff of Office for People with Developmental Disabilities and Office of Mental Health facilities. Next week, the state expects to expand this universe further with the addition of ambulatory care workers and public-facing public health workers.”
The public is anxious and is looking to the county to provide information, guidance and insight into how long it will take until vaccines will be available to the general population.
On December 28 Governor Cuomo announced that 140,000 vaccine doses were given. There has been little to no information about how many vaccine doses have been provided to Suffolk County nor how many people have received their first dose. Transparency is key to maintaining public confidence in vaccine distribution.
NYS and Suffolk County both provide Information disclosing testing results on a daily basis. Information on hospital bed and ICU bed availability is provided daily. COVID-19 Fatalities are provided daily. it is important that vaccine inoculations becomes a part of that daily report.
We will get through this. But remember life is better when we are kind.
Wearing a mask is not about taking away rights. Wearing a mask is about trying to not get sick and trying to not pass COVID to someone else.
Pat Biancaniello
Reader Comments (1)
Take precautions- vaccine is imminent for many- be kind.