By News 12 Staff
Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Monday that he's directing $15 million to communities hardest hit by COVID-19 and have the lowest vaccination rates.
"Only 6.7% of the state has new positive cases above the average and a vaccination rate of below the average, so we're focusing on those 117 ZIP codes," says Cuomo.
Cuomo says the state is turning to community-based organizations to help with the effort.
Minerva Perez runs the nonprofit Organizacion Latino Americana, a group that advocates for the Hispanic community on eastern Long Island. Her group has been trying to help minorities get access to vaccines, which she says is more important now than ever.
"…We do need a renewed effort in making this vaccine as accessible as possible," says Perez.
Cuomo says there are 21 ZIP codes on Long Island where COVID-19 is spreading.
"That's where 25% of the population lives, that's where COVID is spreading and vaccination is low," says Cuomo. "That, my friends, is where we need to target."
Perez says she plans to get out and help so that people can get vaccinated.
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