About 60,000 people attended Saturday’s concert, titled “We Love NYC: The Homecoming Concert.” Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the concert in June as part of a “Homecoming Week” to show the world that the metropolis has put the pandemic behind it. Earlier this week, several smaller concerts took place throughout the city.
Carlos Santana, Andrea Bocelli, LL Cool J and Earth, Wind and Fire had already finished their gigs, but Bruce Springsteen, Patti Smith and Elvis Costello had yet to take the stage when the decision was made to send everyone home.
Shortly after 7:30 PM (local time), while Barry Manilow Can’t Smile Without You sang, thunder and lightning ended the concert. “Please take shelter for your own safety,” it sounded from loudspeakers in Central Park after the music was shut down.
Most tickets to the concert were free. All visitors aged twelve years and older had to show a vaccination certificate. Face masks were only mandatory for unvaccinated children.
‘The Big Apple’, as New York is also known, was hit hard by the pandemic in early 2020. More than 33,000 people died from the effects of the lung virus.
About 68 percent of the adult residents of New York have now been fully vaccinated against corona. Still, some 1,850 new infections are reported daily in the city, an increase of 19 percent compared to 14 days ago. With the concert, the city wants to emphasize the importance of vaccination once again.
Henri
Hurricane Henri is expected on Sunday. More than 42 million inhabitants will have to take problems into account. The authorities therefore warn of life-threatening storm surges and floods. De Blasio has urged all residents of New York City to stay indoors or use public transportation only.
Henri reaches shore at Long Island or nearby, calculations show. It is located just east in New York State. That administrative area has also declared a state of emergency as a precautionary measure. The National Guard has also been mobilized so that reservists are ready to help. The neighboring states of Massachusetts and Connecticut did as well.
Grace
Besides Henri, another storm is wreaking havoc in North America: Hurricane Grace has killed at least eight people in Mexico. The victims were in the state of Veracruz. Three more are said to be missing. Grace has meanwhile lost strength and is now still a ‘tropical storm’.
Wind speeds of 110 km per hour are still being measured. The storm is expected to weaken further. Grace was still a category 3 hurricane when it passed through the state of Veracruz. Eight people, including children, were killed in this state, the local governor announced. Several dead are part of the same family. There is also a lot of material damage, such as torn roofs and fallen trees. Power went out in several places. Residents living near a river are being urged to remain vigilant for possible flooding and mudslides in the following hours.
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