AIDS Walk New York raises more than $2M

The Gay Mens’ Health Crisis raised $2.25 million during its first in-person AIDS Walk in Central Park since the start of the pandemic, the organization announced.

Almost 10,000 people converged on the Naumburg Bandshell on Sunday, May 15, united by the common cause of sustaining GMHC’s vital programs to serve New York residents living with or affected by HIV and AIDS.

The organization continues to accept donations at NY.AIDSWalk.net.   

In addition to the walk itself, there was Emily Walton, a Riverdale native and cast member with Broadway’s “Come From Away,” who kicked things off with a rendition of “You’ll Never Walk Along,” the Pride Puppets, Gotham Cheer, and drumlines along the route.

NYC expands COVID guidance tool

The NYC Test & Trace Corps has expanded its COVID-19 Quarantine and Isolation Guidance Tool to provide New Yorkers direct connections to order care packages to help separate safely. The tool will also receive COVID-19 therapeutics, including oral antiviral prescriptions and monoclonal antibody treatments in addition to this critical resource portal.

“We want all New Yorkers to feel confident they know what to do if they have an exposure to someone with COVID-19, or if they test positive themselves,” said Dr. Ted Long, executive director of the NYC Test & Trace Corps and senior vice president for ambulatory care and population health at NYC Health+Hospitals.

“This new tool offers tailored guidance to you, based on your vaccination status. Now, it also can also immediately connect you to resources you might need to safely separate, or a lifesaving medication that can be delivered to you at home. I encourage you to use this tool to keep yourself and your city safe.”

It provides a mechanism for New Yorkers to navigate complex COVID-19 guidance based on their history of infection, date of exposure or positive test, symptoms and vaccination status. After answering a few short questions, users receive quarantine or isolation guidance specific to their circumstances.

If eligible, New Yorkers are directed to an order form to request free delivery of a care package, which contains enough personal protective equipment for a household of three for up to 10 days, including medical grade masks, hand sanitizer, a thermometer and two rapid antigen tests. New Yorkers can also arrange to have free meal delivery so they can safely remain at home. To date, Test & Trace has sent over 640,000 care packages and delivered over 2.3 million meals to New Yorkers in quarantine or isolation.

If you or a loved one need immediate assistance, please call the NYC Test & Trace Corps COVID Hotline at 212-COVID19.