CBS 2 NEW YORK

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Monday COVID restrictions will be lifted once New York reaches a vaccination rate of 70%, and the state is almost there.

“When we hit 70%, then I feel comfortable saying to the people of this state, ‘We can relax virtually all restrictions,’” he said. “Then we can lift the capacity restrictions, social distancing, the hygiene protocols, the health screenings, the potential tracing. Masks will only be required as recommended by the CDC.”

COVID rules will still apply in certain settings, like large venues, schools, public transportation, hospitals and nursing homes.

CBS2’s Jenna DeAngelis went to find out what’s being done to reach communities with the lowest vaccine rates.

“I need to get back to normal. I want to travel and live life,” said Bronx resident Denise Sampayo.

For those reasons, Sampayo was debating getting vaccinated. It was her 11-year-old son Ethan who convinced her.

“I wanted my mom to get vaccinated for her safety because I remember she got COVID,” Ethan said.

“I was one of those that said I’m not doing that until a year later. Then, of course, reality hit and I got sick,” Sampayo said.

“That’s what we’re here to do, change hearts, change minds and make sure that people get shots in their arms,” said Bronx Rising Initiative Chief Operation Officer Jason Autar.

The organization was created in response to the pandemic‘s disproportionate impact on the borough, going door to door to educate the community on the vaccine.

“To date, we’ve knocked on something like 7,500 doors, mostly through public housing in NYCHA,” Autar said.

Forty-five percent of New York City residents got their shots, but a breakdown by demographic shows only 25% of Black and 31% of Hispanic residents are fully vaccinated.

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