Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress Combating COVID-19 - SEPTEMBER 8, 2022

 

Governor Encourages New Yorkers to Keep Using the Tools to Protect Against and Treat COVID-19: Vaccines, Boosters, Testing, and Treatment

19 Statewide Deaths Reported Yesterday

 Governor Kathy Hochul today updated New Yorkers on the state's progress combating COVID-19.   

"As we continue to battle this pandemic, New Yorkers have been smart, looked out for one another, and taken appropriate steps to protect themselves and their neighbors," Governor Hochul said. "Getting vaccinated and boosted remains our best shot at protecting ourselves and our fellow New Yorkers, and I encourage everyone eligible to get the updated COVID-19 booster. And as the fall approaches, test before gatherings or travel and if you test positive, talk to your doctor about potential treatment options." 

Earlier this week, Governor Hochul announced the availability of bivalent COVID-19 vaccine boosters from Pfizer-BioNTech for anyone age 12 or older and from Moderna for those 18 or older. To schedule an appointment for a booster, New Yorkers should contact their local pharmacy, county health department, or healthcare provider; visit vaccines.gov; text their ZIP code to 438829, or call 1-800-232-0233 to find nearby locations. 

In addition, Governor Hochul announced that masking is optional in multiple settings where they were previously required, including on public transportation, in for-hire vehicles, at airports, homeless shelters, correctional facilities, and detention centers. Masks are still required at adult care and health care facilities regulated by the state Department of Health, and in clinical settings regulated by the Office of Mental Health, Office of Addiction Services and Supports, and Office for People With Developmental Disabilities.   

Today's data is summarized briefly below:     

• Cases Per 100k – 20.98 
• 7-Day Average Cases Per 100k – 17.28 
• Test Results Reported – 57,849 
• Total Positive - 4,100 
• Percent Positive – 6.86%**  
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 5.95%**     
• Patient Hospitalization - 2,199 (-26) 
• Patients Newly Admitted - 378 
• Patients in ICU - 229 (-6) 
• Patients in ICU with Intubation - 85 (-3) 
• Total Discharges - 339,213 (341) 
• New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 19 
• Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 57,771 

** Due to the test reporting policy change by the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and several other factors, the most reliable metric to measure virus impact on a community is the case per 100,000 data — not percent positivity.     

The Health Electronic Response Data System is a NYS DOH data source that collects confirmed daily death data as reported by hospitals, nursing homes and adult care facilities only.     

Important Note: Effective Monday, April 4, the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is no longer requiring testing facilities that use COVID-19 rapid antigen tests to report negative results. As a result, New York State's percent positive metric will be computed using only lab-reported PCR results. Positive antigen tests will still be reported to New York State and reporting of new daily cases and cases per 100k will continue to include both PCR and antigen tests. Due to this change and other factors, including changes in testing practices, the most reliable metric to measure virus impact on a community is the case per 100,000 data -- not percent positivity.     

• Total deaths reported to and compiled by the CDC - 73,818 

Each New York City borough's 7-day average percentage of positive test results reported over the last three days is as follows **:    

Borough	Monday,  Sept.5, 2022	Tuesday,   Sept. 6, 2022	Wed., Sept.   7, 2022
Bronx	6.10%	6.19%	6.12%
Kings	2.78%	3.34%	3.35%
New York	4.76%	4.75%	4.89%
Queens	7.10%	7.13%	7.07%
Richmond	6.18%	6.21%	6.01%

Governor Hochul Announces $475 Million in Tax Relief for 1.8 Million Low-Income New Yorkers and Families

 

New Yorkers Who Received Empire State Child Credit and/or the Earned Income Credit to Automatically Receive Checks

New Yorkers Can Check Eligibility Here

Program Builds on Governor's Agenda to Deliver Critical Tax Relief During Nationwide Affordability Crisis

 Governor Kathy Hochul and legislative leaders today announced $475 million in tax relief for eligible low-income New Yorkers and families as part of the state's ongoing effort to combat inflation and improve affordability. The New York Department of Taxation and Finance will soon begin sending direct financial assistance to 1.75 million New Yorkers who received the Empire State Child Credit and/or the Earned Income Credit on their 2021 state tax returns. New Yorkers can expect to receive their checks by the end of October.    

"With this relief package, we're making good on our commitment to helping hardworking New Yorkers through the nationwide affordability crisis," Governor Hochul said. "This program will put money back in the pockets of nearly two million New York families struggling to make ends meet in the face of the pandemic, inflation, and other rising costs. My administration remains laser-focused on improving affordability statewide, and I thank the Legislature for its partnership in ensuring that New York families get this much-needed financial assistance."

Governor Hochul and members of the state legislature approved the Additional NYS Child and Earned Income Tax Payment as part of the FY 2023 Enacted Budget. The program will provide an average payment of $270 per eligible recipient. Eligible New Yorkers do not need to take any action to receive their checks; checks will be mailed automatically.   

The program builds on Governor Hochul's commitment to putting more money back in the pockets of everyday New Yorkers. Earlier this year, the Governor accelerated the distribution of $2.2 billion in tax relief to more than 2 million New Yorkers through the new homeowner tax rebate credit. Governor Hochul also announced a statewide gas and diesel tax holiday to provide New Yorkers relief at the pump as fuel prices hit record highs.    

New Yorkers who have recently moved should update their address with the Department of Taxation and Finance to prevent delays in receiving their Additional NYS Child and Earned Income Tax Payment checks. To do so, they can create an account on the Department's website and follow on-screen instructions to complete required fields and save their updated address.