What to Know
- Influenza might be a household name, but doctors say it is still one of the deadliest viruses out there
- New York City voters are set to vote in a special election to choose the city's next public advocate
- The new tap-and-go system of paying fares at New York City's subways and buses will start as soon as May for some customers
Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019
Happy Tuesday! It won't be quite as windy today, but it's still going to be cold and blustery. Highs will be in the mid-30s. As always, get the latest forecast at nbcnewyork.com/weather.
1. Getting the Flu: Inside the Fight Against a Deadly Virus
Influenza might be a household name, but doctors say it is still one of the deadliest viruses out there.
The flu lands tens of thousands of people in hospital each year in the United States, and kills just as many worldwide. Despite this, vaccination rates are abysmal.
The CDC estimates only four in 10 people get the yearly flu shot. Even then, it’s a vaccine that only works about half of the time, while flu tests are also unreliable and flu drugs can only be taken in a short window.
Local
Read more here.
2. NYC Voters Are Set to Choose the Next Public Advocate
New York City voters are set to vote in a special election to choose the city's next public advocate, a job that comes with a $165,000 salary, a $3 million budget and a bully pulpit - but little actual power.
Seventeen candidates are in the running, including Democrats Jumaane Williams, the city councilman who ran an unsuccessful but respectable race against the state's incumbent lieutenant governor last year, and former City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito.
State Assemblyman Michael Blake and City Council Member Rafael Espinal, Jr. are also in the mix, as is the only Republican in the race, Queens City Councilman Eric Ulrich.
Read more here.
3. 'OMNY' Tap-and-Go Replacement for MetroCards Start Soon
The new tap-and-go system of paying fares at New York City's subways and buses will start as soon as May for some customers.
The MetroCard replacement will be called OMNY -- short for One Metro New York -- and features a contactless payment system similar to London and other international mass transit networks, transit officials said.
The MTA says that beginning in May, customers will be able to use a contactless card or smart device to tap and go on board all Staten Island buses and at subway stations on the 4, 5 and 6 lines between Grand Central-42nd Street and Atlantic Avenue-Barclays Center.
Read more here.
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