Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress Combating COVID-19 - OCTOBER 14, 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 get further into the fall season, I urge New Yorkers to 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 test before gatherings or travel. If you test positive, talk to your doctor about potential treatment options."

Governor Hochul continues to urge New Yorkers to get their bivalent COVID-19 vaccine boosters from Pfizer-BioNTech for anyone age 12 or older and from Moderna for those 18 or older. This week, the bivalent booster was approved by the FDA and CDC for anyone age 5 and older for the Pfizer-BioNTech and 6 and older for Moderna, and both will be available in the coming days. 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 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 has its annual public education campaign underway, reminding adults and parents to get both flu and COVID-19 shots for themselves and children 6 months and older. Public service announcements continue to run in both English and Spanish language.

Today's data is summarized briefly below:    

• Cases Per 100k - 27.13
• 7-Day Average Cases Per 100k - 20.37
• Test Results Reported - 72,755
• Total Positive - 5,302
• Percent Positive - 6.86%**    
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 6.52%**       
• Patient Hospitalization - 2,714 (+51)
• Patients Newly Admitted - 466
• Patients in ICU - 286 (+6)
• Patients in ICU with Intubation - 90 (+6)
• Total Discharges - 350,543 (+423)
• New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 19   
• Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 58,402

** 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 - 74,548

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.       

• Total vaccine doses administered - 40,292,382
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 24 hours - 4,803
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 7 days - 25,483
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose - 93.4% 
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series - 84.8% 
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 95.0% 
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 89.1% 
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 12-17 with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 85.9%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 12-17 with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 75.4% 
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose - 83.5% 
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series - 75.5% 
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 92.7% 
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 79.3% 

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

Borough	Tuesday,   October   11, 2022	Wednesday,   October   12, 2022	Thursday,   October   13, 2022
Bronx	4.84%	4.84%	5.06%
Kings	3.39%	3.48%	3.71%
New York	4.73%	4.92%	5.29%
Queens	5.92%	5.93%	6.29%
Richmond	7.50%	7.22%	7.37%

Governor Hochul Announces Pay Increases for Nurse Positions to Improve Statewide Recruitment and Retention Efforts

 Pay Increases Benefit More than 6,500 State Employees Across 15 State Agencies

Part of Governor's Overall Commitment to Expand Healthcare Workforce

 Governor Kathy Hochul today announced a series of pay increases for nurse positions within New York State agencies to help improve recruitment and retention among the state's healthcare workforce. The increases, which account for the rising complexity of nursing tasks and high credential requirements for nurses, will bring the starting salary of registered nurses working the day shift to nearly $90,000 upstate and $108,000 downstate when coupled with pay differentials. The pay increases will benefit approximately 6,500 New York State employees located across 15 state agencies.

"After more than two years on the frontlines in the battle against COVID-19, New York nurses deserve more than our gratitude - they deserve fair and competitive pay," Governor Hochul said. "These wage increases reflect our state's commitment to supporting our healthcare workers and will help us retain and recruit the next generation of nurses to keep New Yorkers safe."

New York State upgraded select nursing titles, with the upgrades representing an average pay increase of 4.5 percent per title. Registered Nurse titles will also now be hired at the midpoint of the salary range. In addition, registered nurse titles will receive an updated shift pay to include an increase of 7 percent of base pay for the evening shift (4:00pm to 12:00am) and an increase of 10 percent of base pay for the night shift (12:00am to 8:00 am).

These pay increases are in addition to increased geographic pay differentials for registered and licensed practical nurse titles enacted earlier this year. In July, registered nurse positions located in Mid-Hudson and downstate locations received a $35,000 geographic pay differential, an increase of 94 percent from the previous $18,000 differential. Registered nurse positions located in the rest of the state also received a $20,000 geographic pay differential, an increase of 67 percent from the previous $12,000 pay differential. In May, licensed practical nurse positions located in Mid-Hudson and downstate locations received a $13,000 geographic pay differential, an increase of 550 percent from the previous $2,000 differential and positions located in the rest of the state received a $4,000 geographic pay differential, an increase of 100 percent from the previous $2,000 differential.

The salary increase is expected to have the greatest impact at the following agencies, which currently have the largest number of eligible positions:

• State University of New York - 3,381 employees
• Office of Mental Health - 1,663 employees
• Office for People with Developmental Disabilities - 674 employees
• Department of Corrections and Community Supervision - 518 employees
• Department of Health - 371 employees
• Office of Addiction Services and Supports - 120 employees

New York State Department of Civil Service Commissioner Timothy Hogues said, "New York State employs thousands of nurses, who provide critical services across our state agencies to protect the health and wellbeing of New Yorkers. By offering our nurses with these well-deserved pay increases, our partner agencies will be better positioned to retain these talented and dedicated employees. Under the leadership of Governor Hochul, the Department of Civil Service is working hard to implement changes to best support and retain our current public workforce and to ensure our compensation is competitive to attract the next generation of talent to public service careers."

Public Employees Federation President Wayne Spence said, "PEF advocated for years on behalf of pay equity and title restructuring for nurses in our union. We are pleased that Governor Hochul and the Department of Civil Service have taken steps to increase salary grades and reward these dedicated public servants. At a time when we've all seen the importance of public health services, New York must continue to do everything it can to attract and retain nurses."

These pay increases are part of Governor Hochul's historic commitment and investments to restore the healthcare workforce and build the healthcare system of tomorrow. As part of the enacted FY 2023 Budget, Governor Hochul is investing more than $10 billion in healthcare, including more than $4 billion to support wages and bonuses for healthcare workers. This includes a $1.2 billion investment for healthcare and mental hygiene worker retention bonuses, with up to $3,000 bonuses going to full-time workers who remain in their positions for one year, and pro-rated bonuses for those working fewer hours.

New York State fosters an environment that encourages and supports the professional growth and career opportunities for nurses and employs thousands of Nurse Practitioners, Registered Nurses, and Licensed Practical Nurses in agencies located across the State.

Nurses employed in State government receive:

• Comprehensive benefit package, including retirement benefits
• A wide range of career mobility options
• A broad selection of education, professional development, and training opportunities
• Tuition reimbursement and tuition assistance

For more information on public service nursing careers, visit Nursing Careers in State Government.

To learn more about working for the State of New York and how to take the next step in pursuing a rewarding career in public service, please visit the Department of Civil Service website and follow the Department of Civil Service on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.