Governor Cuomo Announces Nursing Home Visitations to Resume in Accordance with CMS and CDC Guidelines - and COVID-19 Indicators - FEBRUARY 19, 2021

 

DOH Recommends Nursing Home Visitors Take a Rapid Test Before Entry; DOH Will Provide Rapid Tests to Nursing Homes at No Cost

New York City Indoor Dining Can Expand to 35 Percent Capacity on February 26; Reopening Subject to Strict State Guidance

Hospitalizations Drop to 6,155—Lowest Since December 17

7-Day Average Positivity Rate Drops to 3.60%-42 Straight Days of Decline

6,155 Patient Hospitalizations Statewide

1,199 Patients in the ICU; 834 Intubated

Statewide Positivity Rate is 3.49%

116 COVID-19 Deaths in New York State Yesterday

 Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that the New York State Department of Health will allow visitation of residents in nursing home facilities in accordance with CMS and CDC guidelines. The Department of Health recommends that visitors take a rapid test before entry into the facility, and DOH will provide rapid tests to nursing homes at no cost. Guidance on visitations will be available beginning Monday, February 22.

The Governor also announced that New York City indoor dining can expand to 35 percent capacity next Friday, February 26. The reopening is subject to strict state guidance and aligns with New Jersey's 35 percent limit.

Governor Cuomo also announced that the FDA has allocated 4,610 doses of the therapeutic bamlanivimab to New York. Bamlanivimab was shown in trials to reduce COVID hospitalization or ER visits in high-risk patients within 28 days after treatment when compared to a placebo.

COVID-19 hospitalizations dropped to 6,155, the lowest level since December 17. The 7-day average positivity rate has declined for 42 straight days.

"New Yorkers should be commended for how they have continued to beat back this invisible enemy and as we continue that progress, we're working to reopen parts of our lives that we've had to give up because of COVID," Governor Cuomo said. "One of the most devastating aspects of this virus has been how it separated families from their loved ones, making an already difficult situation even harder to bear. Thanks to the dedication of New Yorkers, we're now at a point where we can begin to resume nursing home visitations under strict guidelines to protect the health and safety of residents. The light at the end of the tunnel is getting closer, but we are not out of the woods yet. New Yorkers have been through so much this past year and as long as we continue to follow the science and remain united, we will finally win this war."

Today's data is summarized briefly below:

• Test Results Reported - 249,248
• Total Positive - 8,710
• Percent Positive - 3.49%
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 3.60%
• Patient Hospitalization - 6,155 (-279)
• Net Change Patient Hospitalization Past Week - -913
• Patients Newly Admitted - 664
• Hospital Counties - 56
• Number ICU - 1,199 (-59)
• Number ICU with Intubation - 834 (-29)
• Total Discharges - 140,968 (+753)
• Deaths - 116
• Total Deaths - 37,675