Over a year later, the Upper West Side community is still cheering on healthcare workers every night – CBS New York

NEW YORK (CBSNew York) – While there has been a lot of progress in the fight against COVID, an Upper West Side community is reminding residents that it is not over yet.

Blowing whistles and waving from balconies, the neighborhood was one of the first to participate in the 7 p.m. nighttime ritual that took off during COVID.

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“It’s about health workers and encouraging them,” said one child.

It didn’t stop.

Rabbi Janise Poticha is one of the first to go out every night.

“My sister barely survived COVID. I have worshipers whose parents have died of COVID, ”she told CBS2’s Jessica Layton. “Now, months and months and months later, it’s still a sense of hope.”

CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC

The continual rallying is a claim that they are all still there, even though they know some neighbors are nighttime noise noises.

“We continue. That’s kind of how life is supposed to be, isn’t it? Said resident John Rodriguez.

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“Enough is not enough,” said resident Roanne Nagler. “It is not finished.”

More than 40 states are reporting an increase in daily COVID cases, fueled by the dangerous Delta variant, as we see the first nationwide rise since early April and new fears of more hospitalizations.

On Wednesday, the White House called on the power of the stars to encourage vaccination of young people – pop singer Olivia Rodrigo.

“It is important to have conversations with friends and family members to encourage all communities to get vaccinated,” she said.

COVID VACCINE

In New York City, Mayor Bill de Blasio touts new Yale study that shows the city’s vaccination program has potentially saved more than 8,000 lives, but efforts to reach the unvaccinated continue with more vaccination sites mobile and door-to-door, in home programs.

For now, the Upper West Side community says they will continue to cheer and take care of themselves.

“We think it’s important, and I still think it’s important to keep going,” said Poticha.

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Jessica Layton of CBS2 contributed to this report.