Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress Combating COVID-19-OCTOBER 20, 2022

 

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

21 Statewide Deaths Reported Yesterday

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

"As the weather cools, I urge New Yorkers to stay vigilant and take advantage of all available tools to keep themselves, their loved ones and their communities safe and healthy," Governor Hochul said. "Stay up to date on vaccine doses, and continue to get tested before gatherings or travel. If you test positive, talk to your doctor about potential treatment options."

Governor Hochul also announced this week that children ages 5 and older may now receive the bivalent booster shots that are recommended to increase protection against COVID-19. The State Department of Health updated its guidance after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration amended its emergency use authorization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its clinical guidance, which collectively will allow more children to safely boost their immunity against COVID-19.

The Governor continues to urge New Yorkers to get their bivalent COVID-19 vaccine boosters. 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 is encouraging New Yorkers to get their annual flu vaccine as flu season is already widespread across New York State. The flu virus and the virus that causes COVID-19 are both currently circulating, so getting vaccinated against both is the best way to stay healthy and to avoid added stress to the health care system.

The State Department of Health recently announced the launch of its annual public education campaign, reminding adults and parents to get both flu and COVID-19 shots for themselves and children 6 months and older. The advertisements, which will run in both English and Spanish language, began running on Monday, October 10.

For information about flu vaccine clinics, contact the local health department or visit vaccines.gov/find-vaccines/.

Today's data is summarized briefly below:

1. Cases Per 100k - 23.93
2. 7-Day Average Cases Per 100k - 20.44
3. Test Results Reported - 66,560
4. Total Positive - 4,676
5. Percent Positive - 6.56%**
6. 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 6.62%**
7. Patient Hospitalization - 2,819 (-50)
8. Patients Newly Admitted - 461
9. Patients in ICU - 295 (+2)
10. Patients in ICU with Intubation - 117 (+4)
11. Total Discharges - 352,728 (+454)
12. New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 21
13. Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 58,528

** 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.

1. Total deaths reported to and compiled by the CDC - 74,704

This daily COVID-19 provisional death certificate data reported by NYS DOH and NYC to the CDC includes those who died in any location, including hospitals, nursing homes, adult care facilities, at home, in hospice and other settings.

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,   October   17, 2022	Tuesday,   October   18, 2022	Wednesday,   October   19, 2022
Bronx	5.17%	5.27%	5.12%
Kings	4.52%	5.21%	5.14%
New York	5.42%	5.43%	5.43%
Queens	6.29%	6.28%	6.32%
Richmond	6.87%	6.89%	6.65%

Yonkers Doctor Pleads Guilty To Illegal Distribution Of More Than 100,000 Oxycodone Pills

 

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that MARC LARUELLE pled guilty to one count of distributing Oxycodone, among other narcotics, without a legitimate medical purpose while acting outside the usual course of professional practice.  LARUELLE pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Denis L. Cote.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said:  “Marc Laruelle abused his medical license and violated the oath of his profession when he prescribed more than 100,000 doses of a highly potent and addictive opioid without a legitimate medical need.  As this case makes clear, we will aggressively prosecute physicians who are contributing to the national opioid crisis.  Laruelle now awaits sentencing for his crime.”

According to the Indictment, LARUELLE’s plea agreement, and statements made in Court:

Between in or about September 2016 up to and including in or about October 2021, MARC LARUELLE, a licensed doctor specializing in psychiatry, prescribed more than 100,000 doses of Oxycodone without a legitimate medical purpose outside of the usual course of professional practice.  Oxycodone is a highly potent and addictive opioid that commands high prices in the black market because of demand by drug abusers.  LARUELLE often prescribed Oxycodone in combination with Xanax (alprazolam) and/or Adderall (amphetamine), controlled substances that are themselves frequently abused and resold illicitly.  LARUELLE failed to perform proper physical examinations or medical tests prior to prescribing Oxycodone to his patients.  LARUELLE also charged patients as much as $800 per prescription and prescribed large amounts of Oxycodone with the understanding that the quantity would be resold in the black market. 

LARUELLE, 65, of Yonkers, New York, pled guilty to one count of distributing Oxycodone, Amphetamines, and Xanax, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. 

The statutory maximum sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing will be determined by a judge.  LARUELLE is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Cote on January 26, 2023.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (“OCDETF”) New York Strike Force for their support and assistance in this matter.  The OCDETF New York Strike Force is a crime-fighting unit comprising federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies supported by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force and the New York/New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area.  The Strike Force is affiliated with the DEA’s New York Division and includes agents and officers of the DEA, New York City Police Department, New York State Police, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Marshals Service, New York National Guard, Clarkstown Police Department, U.S. Coast Guard, Port Washington Police Department, and New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.  Mr. Williams also thanked the New York State Department of Health Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement for their assistance in this case.