Governor Hochul's Weekly Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress Combating COVID-19

 

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

In Alignment with May 11 Expiration of Federal COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, New York State COVID-19/Vaccine Update News Releases Will No Longer Be Issued After May 12

Latest Data Remains Available Online 24/7

All COVID-19 Public Information and Resources Available at Coronavirus.Health.NY.Gov

 Governor Kathy Hochul today updated New Yorkers on the state's latest information regarding COVID-19 and outlined basic steps they can take to protect against the spread of viral respiratory infections. 

"Even though the federal public health emergency is ending, I encourage every New Yorker to remain vigilant against COVID-19 and use 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 be sure to test before gatherings or travel. If you test positive, talk to your doctor about potential treatment options."

In alignment with the federal government's planned expiration for the COVID-19 public health emergency on May 11, the New York State COVID-19/vaccine news release will no longer be issued after Friday, May 12, until further notice. The latest COVID-19 and vaccine data will continue to be available 24/7 on the New York State Department of Health's online tracker. All COVID-19 public information and resources are available at https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/.

Additionally, the State Department of Health is assessing changes to COVID-19 data collection and reporting, in collaboration with local health departments and health care providers. The agency remains committed to responding to COVID-19 and continues to encourage New Yorkers to use the tools to protect against and treat COVID-19: vaccines, testing and treatment. 

Governor Hochul is urging New Yorkers to take common sense prevention measures — like staying up to date on vaccines and practicing proper hygiene — to protect from the flu and COVID-19. The Governor also continues to urge New Yorkers to get their additional COVID-19 vaccines, as recommended by the CDC.  

To schedule an appointment for an additional COVID-19 vaccine, New Yorkers should contact their local pharmacy, county health department, or health care provider; visit vaccines.gov; text their ZIP code to 438829; or call 1-800-232-0233 to find nearby vaccine locations. 

The weekly COVID-19 data is summarized below:

• 7-Day Average Cases Per 100k - 2.29
• Total Positive Cases Over Last 7 Days - 3,139
• Test Results Reported Over Last 7 Days - 172,478
• Total Positives to-date - 6,675,393
• 7- Day Average Patient Hospitalization - 625
• 7- Day Average Patients Newly Admitted - 93
• 7-Day Average Patients in ICU - 68
• 7-Day Average Patients in ICU with Intubation - 30
• New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS over last 7 days - 41
• Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 62,488

The Health Electronic Response Data System is a New York State Department of Health data source that collects confirmed data as reported by hospitals, nursing homes and adult care facilities only. 

• Total deaths reported to and compiled by the CDC - 79,521

This daily COVID-19 provisional death certificate data reported by the Department of Health and New York City 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 - 44,034,880
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 7 days - 33,724
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed primary vaccine series - 85.6%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed primary vaccine series (CDC) - 90.8%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older who are up to date - 16.7%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 12-17 with completed primary vaccine series - 74.7%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 12-17 with completed primary vaccine series (CDC) - 76.5%   
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 12-17 who are up to date - 6.8%   
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 5-11 with completed primary vaccine series - 40.3%  
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 5-11 with completed primary vaccine series (CDC) - 41.2%   
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 5-11 who are up to date - 4.2%  
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 0-4 with completed primary vaccine series - 8.1%  
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 0-4 who are up to date - 8.1%  
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed primary vaccine series - 76.6%  
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed primary vaccine series (CDC) - 81.0%  
• Percent of all New Yorkers who are up to date - 14.5% 

Each region's 7-day average of cases per 100,000 population as of Thursday, May 4:

Region	7-day average, cases per 100k
Capital Region	1.87
Central New York	1.36
Finger Lakes	2.00
Long Island	2.81
Mid-Hudson	3.22
Mohawk Valley	1.88
New York City	2.19
North Country	2.18
Southern Tier	2.03
Western New York	1.71
Statewide	2.29

The COVID-19 Vaccine Tracker Dashboard is available to update New Yorkers on the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine. The New York State Department of Health requires vaccinating facilities to report all COVID-19 vaccine administration data within 24 hours; the vaccine administration data on the dashboard is updated daily to reflect the most up-to-date metrics in the state's vaccination effort. New York State Department of Health-reported data from NYSIIS and CIR differs slightly from federally reported data, which is inclusive of federally administered doses and other minor differences. Both numbers are included in the release above.

Important Note: Today's report includes data from Friday, April 28 through Thursday, May 4. 

Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine - Now is NOT the time for more rent increases

 

Earlier this week the Rent Guidelines Board passed a preliminary vote advancing a range of proposed rent hikes on rent-stabilized apartments in New York City. If passed in a final vote scheduled for June 21, these potential adjustments could increase rent 2-5% for one-year leases and 4-7% for two-year leases. I know many of you are personally affected or, at least, deeply concerned by this action – I share your concern and want you to know that I stand with you in strong opposition to the Board’s decision.  Our city is still entrenched in a housing crisis that has seen median rent as high as $5,000 in Manhattan and many rent-stabilized tenants are still feeling the impacts of the Board’s rent increases from just a year ago. Now is not the time for more rent increases that puts further burden on the backs of nearly 2 million vulnerable New Yorkers. It’s time for the opposite – a total rent freeze for stabilized units.    I’m committed to continue fighting as the Board moves to its final vote and strongly urge it to reject any proposed increases that add financial stress to the lives of struggling New Yorkers. But this fight doesn’t stop with the Rent Guidelines Board. We have so much work to do to help alleviate the pressures facing New Yorkers struggling to stay in their homes. As the Mayor and the City Council negotiate the budget, my colleagues and I have urged them to boost funding for the vital Right to Counsel program.

This program provides essential legal support for tenants facing eviction, helping them navigate the complex legal system and stay in their homes. But the City has not fully funded this program, leaving thousands of tenants without legal representation in housing court. And while we continue to fight to keep New Yorkers in their current homes, we must also rapidly increase our housing production, so that every family can afford to find a new home. Our office is pushing forward with our Housing Manhattanites initiative that aims to address our city's housing challenges head-on.  We've launched a housing portal on our website that allows you, our fellow Manhattanites, to suggest sites in the borough you believe would be viable for building new housing.  A vacant lot, single-story commercial building, or even underutilized city property – your input is invaluable, and we believe that working together, we can create innovative and sustainable solutions for our city's housing needs. To share your suggestions, please visit the web portal HERE. Let's join forces to build a better, more equitable, and more resilient Manhattan. Mark We're thrilled to announce the first installment of our new Manhattan Empowerment Series, all about bringing you the tools for living your best Manhattan life. We're kicking off the series on May 24 from 6–8 pm with a workshop about New York's housing lottery, presented by the NYC Dept. of Housing Preservation and Development and in partnership with Catholic Charities, at the Lt. Joseph P. Kennedy Community Center (34 W. 134th St.). Constituents and nonprofit employees are invited to learn more about the lottery process and how to get yourself or the New Yorkers you serve into affordable, stable housing. Register Here Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine and Assembly Member Grace Lee are thrilled to invite you to a joint celebration in honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. At the event, they will acknowledge the exceptional work of remarkable individuals and groups within the community who have made significant strides in breaking barriers and promoting equity. Join us May 19 at 5:30 pm at the Manny Cantor Center (197 East Broadway) – register here. RSVP Here Parents: Cast Your CEC Vote by May 9 Public school parents can vote for Community and Citywide Education Council members through your NYC Schools Account (or create one here). The councils advocate for your school community and give parents a voice in the education system. Learn more about voting and the council candidates here. You could be our next: Constituent Services Liaison Housing Policy Analyst Community Liasion Not for you? Help us find great candidates by spreading the word! Apply Here

MAYOR ADAMS ANNOUNCES PROGRAM TO PROVIDE SHELTER OPTION FOR ASYLUM SEEKERS ALREADY IN CARE IN NEARBY NEW YORK COUNTIES

 

As New York’s shelter capacity continues to rise to the highest level in recorded history, New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced a new program to provide up to four months of temporary sheltering in nearby New York counties, outside of New York City, to single-adult men seeking asylum who are already in the city’s care. The program will launch with two hotels located in Orange Lake and Orangeburg, with the potential to expand, and will provide asylum seekers with shelter for up to four months as well as the same city-funded services available at Humanitarian Emergency Relief and Response Centers. Staff at participating hotels will also connect asylum seekers with community-based organizations and faith groups to support their transition to a new city. With the number of asylum seekers arriving in New York City rapidly accelerating ahead of Title 42’s lifting next week, and what is expected to be an even larger influx after May 11, the hotels in Orange Lake and Orangeburg will free up additional space in New York City for the hundreds of asylum seekers continuing to arrive in the five boroughs every day. Since last spring, over 60,800 asylum seekers have come through New York City and been offered a place to stay and over 37,500 asylum seekers are currently in the city’s care.

 

In addition to notifying New York state of these plans already, the mayors and county executives of both Orange Lake and Orangeburg, as well as other local leaders, have been notified of these plans. Mayor Adams also, today, continued to call for the state and federal governments to provide support to manage this crisis, including financial assistance, a national decompression strategy, expedited work authorization, real immigration reform, and more.

 

“Despite calling on the federal government for a national decompression strategy since last year, and for a decompression strategy across the state, New York City has been left without the necessary support to manage this crisis. With a vacuum of leadership, we are now being forced to undertake our own decompression strategy,” said Mayor Adams. “This new, voluntary program will provide asylum seekers with temporary housing, access to services, and connections to local communities as they build a stable life in New York state. New York City continues to step up and handle this crisis, and this new program is an extension of our compassionate response, but these actions do not mean we still don’t need urgent action, including a national decompression strategy, financial resources, expedited work authorization, and real immigration reform from Congress.”

 

“As we continue to call on additional support from the state and federal government, we are simultaneously finding ways to meet this increasing need,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom. “This new program provides additional housing options in neighboring counties for asylum seekers arriving in New York City. This is an issue we must all work together to address, as we have a shared responsibility in managing the influx of over 60,000 asylum seekers arriving to our city.”

 

“For the past year, we have been asking the federal government for support as we respond to this humanitarian crisis,” said Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs Commissioner Manuel Castro. “As asylum seekers continue to arrive to New York City seeking refuge, the city is continuing to respond and this program will provide a pathway for asylum seekers to access temporary housing, as they build their lives in the United States.”

 

“Mayor Adams and the city of New York are doing everything possible to offer dignity and respect to our newest neighbors as they seek asylum,” said New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development Commissioner Adolfo Carrión Jr. “Through this program, the city is giving people options and providing compassionate support as they transition to a new life here including access to community-based organizations and faith groups. We will continue to support these efforts to help those who come to our country and arrive in our city seeking refuge.”

 

Beginning this week, the city will conduct outreach to asylum seekers already living in shelters and humanitarian relief centers as it looks to open the initial cohort of hotels in Orange Lake and Orangeburg in the coming weeks. Transfers to these two cities will be voluntary. The city will provide transportation from New York City to the hotels for asylum seekers who decide to participate.

 

Since this humanitarian crisis began, New York City has — largely on its own — taken fast and urgent action, managing the arrival of a rapidly increasing number of buses across New York City with virtually no coordination from states sending them — opening 122 hotels as emergency shelters and eight currently operating humanitarian relief centers already, standing up a navigation center to connect asylum seekers with critical resources, enrolling children in public schools through Project Open Arms, and more.

SENATOR RIVERA ON THE MURDER OF MR. JORDAN NEELY

 

"Like so many New Yorkers, I was appalled by the senseless murder of Mr. Jordan Neely. As I understand it, this was not the first time that Mr. Neely was at this station and in distress, yet emergency services had repeatedly failed to truly help him. Regardless, no person deserves to have their life taken away. What Mr. Neely needed was care, not punishment. 

His murderer must be held accountable. 

We cannot ignore that poverty drastically exacerbates the health struggles that any New Yorker is facing. In the moments leading up to this horrific murder, Mr. Neely was crying out for the basic necessities that every New Yorker deserves: housing and food. I beg both my colleagues and the public to stop justifying someone taking unmeasured, violent actions against another. 

This murder did not make anyone safer. Violence never does."