Some Mister Softee ice cream trucks go rogue in Brooklyn
About 10 Brooklyn Mister Softee franchise ice cream trucks have been defying company-wide recommendations to stop selling in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, citing that food trucks are deemed essential.
The company had initially tried to shut down all of their trucks before finding out that they couldn’t legally do so since they’re considered food trucks, which are essential.
“We can say, ‘Don’t go out,’ but we don’t have the keys to every single truck,” Mister Softee VP Mike Conway told Eyewitness News.
The company has around 350 ice cream trucks in New York CIty, with roughly 80 of them operating in Brooklyn. Out of those, only 10 are currently being driven.
Some of these trucks have been spotted around southern and central Brooklyn, such as in Canarsie and Bergen Beach.
Ice cream truck drivers who are still in operation are using gloves and masks, and said that they are still selling because they need to be able to make a living to support their families, and they do not feel that the risk of infection is high enough to discourage them from an income.
“This year, I don’t know how I’m going to pay rent, support my family,” Mister Softee seller Mutlu Gani said. “I don’t know.”
And while some may look at the trucks with a mix of confusion and disdain, others appreciate the option to still live their lives and have some fun while socially distancing.
“It’s a nice day; it shouldn’t stop us from enjoying our lives and enjoying our kids,” customer Jared Bridges said. “[Gani] had his mask, his gloves, wasn’t in close contact for very long. My son obviously has his mask and we hand sanitize, so I’m not worried.”
Read more about this in this article: Eyewitness News
Cuomo calls on all public and private labs to help with COVID-19 testing
New York State Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced today that he will soon be signing an executive order to request that all public and private laboratories in the state coordinate with his office for COVID-19, or novel coronavirus, testing.
This order will call on the labs to work together with the state’s Department of Health to prioritize diagnostic testing.
There are currently 301 private labs and hospitals that are capable of virology testing at the moment, according to the governor.
By adding more labs to that list, more tests will be able to be conducted and faster, which can bring the state closer to reopening, a topic of discussion in recent days.
Cuomo said that to reopen the state would depend on the case numbers and how well the virus has gotten under control. It would also be in coordination with nearby states.
According to the New York State Department of Health, there are 122,148 confirmed cases, 32,843 hospitalizations, 7,890 confirmed deaths and 4,309 probable deaths due to coronavirus statewide as of 2:30 p.m. today.
Read more about this in this article: WRGB Albany News
Brooklyn Half Marathon canceled for this year
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced today that the Brooklyn Half Marathon will be one of several large scale events and parades in the coming weeks that will be canceled due to the coronavirus.
The Brooklyn Half Marathon, originally scheduled for May 16, is the largest half marathon in the country and was expected to see over 27,000 contestants this year.
“We love those events, but what do we know about those events?” de Blasio said. “It inherently means large numbers of people crowded together in a pretty small space. That’s New York City, that’s who we are, but guess what — that goes against everything that we need to do to fight back the coronavirus. So we have to be smart. We love those things, we miss them when we don’t have them, but they will be back.”
Runners who had already registered for the marathon will have the option of either a full refund for their entry fee or a guaranteed non-complimentary entry into next year’s marathon.
If they register for next year’s half marathon, they will also receive a qualifier credit for it and for the 2021 TCS New York City Marathon.
Read more about this in this article: The New York Post
Threat called into a Queens nursing home over high rate of coronavirus deaths
An unidentified man threatened to attack the Sapphire Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing in Queens yesterday night over the amount of coronavirus-related deaths at the center, according to police.
The nursing home’s employee Anthony DiLorenzo confirmed this story with the police and Pix11 News. According to him, the man called around 11 p.m. and spoke to the receptionist.
“I’m upset with the way the patients are being treated there,” he said before threatening to “shoot the place up and kill everybody.” He did not call back or say anything else.
This came about after it started going around that this particular nursing home has had anywhere between 29 and 60 deaths of patients related to the coronavirus.
The Sapphire Center didn’t confirm or deny these claims.
Read more about this in this article: Pix11 News
