New COVID-19 Vaccine Unit Opens at Montefiore and Albert Einstein College of Medicine

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Montefiore Health System and Albert Einstein College of Medicine announced on Monday, Nov. 23, 2020 the opening of a new COVID-19 vaccine unit which will enroll people in clinical trials that will test the efficacy of vaccines against the novel coronavirus. The unit is being led by Barry Zingman, MD, professor of medicine at Einstein and clinical director, infectious diseases, at the Moses division of Montefiore Health System. The unit opening comes as global coronavirus infections are rising sharply again, with nearly 200,000 cases reported daily in the United States. Montefiore’s goal is to ensure more than half of all trial

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Councilman Andy Cohen has reiterated recent messages by the mayor and the governor that tighter restrictions may be imposed in December to curb the spread of the coronavirus. “This is a difficult and challenging time for our educators, students, and families as the City is dealing with the unfortunate reality of having to close our public school’s to in-person learning once again,” Cohen said via a newsletter on Friday, Nov. 20. “As families transition into full-time remote learning, please know there are resources available. Please reach out to my office if you need help accessing meals, learning devices, or connecting

By SÍLE MOLONEY

On Saturday Nov. 14, Montefiore Medical Center hosted the annual Help America Hear Day event, in partnership with the Help America Hear Foundation, McGuire’s Hearing Centers, GN Resound. During the event, six hearing-impaired individuals were fitted with free state-of-the-art hearing aid instruments and will also benefit from follow-up care for the next year at no charge, an early Christmas miracle for the recipients as the average cost for a set of hearing aids is $5,000. The event was a day filled with gratitude, generosity, appreciation and a reminder to everyone that hearing loss affects not only the individual, but also

By SÍLE MOLONEY

New York State continues to remain on guard as Thanksgiving approaches. Gov. Andrew Cuomo said that while the State’s COVID numbers are better, relative to most of the nation, New York has, nonetheless, seen an uptick in the number of total COVID hospitalizations, and test positivity rates in many parts of the state that are higher than what he would like to see. The State’s adopted COVID-19 micro-cluster strategy outlines the new rules and restrictions which directly target areas with the highest transmission of COVID-19 cases and surrounding communities. Now identified are two new yellow cluster zones in the

By JOSÉ A. GIRALT

Throughout the northwest Bronx, various statues, plaques and memorials honor and remember those veterans who served the country, some of whom died in combat. From the Bronx Victory Memorial at the southern end of Mosholu Parkway, which honors local residents who died in World War I, to Memorial Grove in Van Cortlandt Park, which honors those who served up to, and through the Vietnam War, local neighborhoods recognize the service of men and women in the military. Of course, Woodlawn Cemetery is the final resting place for over 6,500 men and women who served in the military. Those

Bronx Teen First Vaping-Related Death in New York State

By SÍLE MOLONEY

On Thursday, Nov. 19, Governor Andrew Cuomo issued some travel and other updates in the context of the recent uptick in COVID-19 cases in New York State. “What I’ve seen from this virus after battling it for 260-plus straight days is that in some ways its course is predictable,” Cuomo said. “So, it is clear that as people travel for the Thanksgiving holiday — so will the virus. Travel is a real concern because New York State has one of the lowest infection rates in the country. If people travel here from states with higher infection rates, that

By ROXANA YUSTI

According to the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, nearly a million New Yorkers are currently living with diabetes. In usual times, managing diabetes can be a challenge. With the COVID-19 pandemic and associated stressors, this may be an even more difficult time to maintain a healthy lifestyle, and control of blood sugar levels. In honor of National Diabetes Awareness Month, the Montefiore Office of Community and Population Health is sharing ways to prevent and control diabetes. Diabetes is a long-lasting health condition that makes it hard for your body to break down the sugar from food

By DAVID GREENE

A number of different events are scheduled throughout November to honor and assist America’s veterans, ranging from health seminars to legal discussions covering veterans’ rights. Last week, local, elected officials gathered at Woodlawn Cemetery for the annual, wreath-laying ceremony at the monument dedicated to those who served and died in World War I, the so-called “war to end all wars.” Unlike years past, this year, the 25 or so attendees at the event wore face masks, had plenty of hand sanitizer available, and remained socially distant during the proceedings, hyper-aware of the rising coronavirus cases reported across the

By SÍLE MOLONEY

On Nov. 5, it was announced, in Albany, that thanks to extended flexibilities in federal rules, close to 400,000 New Yorkers can continue to receive critical remote support through the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, known as WIC. The WIC program provides access to healthy foods, as well as nutritional counseling and breastfeeding support to pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women and children up to age five. Additionally, WIC clinics function as community centers and resource brokers for young families, connecting parents and children with early intervention, mental health and countless other supports. According to New