Guitarist Jared Engel is one of the more than 175,000 residents of New York City, considered the epicenter of the COVID-19 epidemic in the United States, who have tested positive for the coronavirus. He now reports that “I have recovered, and though the doctors shy from using the word ‘immune’ I scored very high for COVID-19 antibodies, which means that I can’t be reinfected as long as the antibodies remain in my blood.
“I’m waiting to hear from Mount Sinai Hospital to schedule my actual plasma donation. I’m also researching ways to donate to undocumented immigrants in NYC. While we may be getting stimulus checks, unemployment payments, and various other federal grants, they don’t qualify for any of these, yet they are an indispensable part of the fabric of our community. I know several other people who are donating a portion of their weekly unemployment payments to causes such as this.”
Musicians may have been shut down from maintaining their normal schedules since early March, but many have stepped up to take on positive acts that have benefited their fellow citizens in helping them get through this difficult time. It may be visiting fire stations or retirement communities on a regular basis, entertaining their neighbors, or assisting overwhelmed medical per
