Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress Combating COVID-19 - DECEMBER 23, 2022

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

32 Statewide Deaths Reported on December 22 

 Governor Kathy Hochul today updated New Yorkers on the state's progress combating COVID-19 and outlined basic steps they can take to protect against the spread of viral respiratory infections that become more common in the winter season. 

"As New Yorkers gather to celebrate this holiday season, I urge everyone to remain vigilant and take all available precautions 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 is urging New Yorkers to take common prevention measures — like staying up to date on vaccines and practicing proper hygiene — to protect from Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), the flu and COVID-19 and reduce the patient burden on local hospitals.The Governor recently updated New Yorkers on the state's winter health preparedness efforts.  

Earlier this month, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and CDC also cleared the way for children six months of age and older to receive the bivalent booster shot to increase protection against COVID-19.Previously, these shots were only available to children ages 5 and older.  

As flu cases remain high across the State, the New York State Department of Health recently reminded New Yorkers to take preventive action, including getting a flu shot. A recent report shows a 19 percent jump in lab-confirmed cases across New York and a six percent increase in flu-related hospitalizations for the week ending December 10th. 

Emergency department visits for patients with flu-like symptoms also remain high. The Department's recent influenza surveillance report also found 79 lab-confirmed outbreaks in long-term and acute care facilities in the State for the same week.  

Governor Hochul previously launched a public awareness campaign featuring New York State Health Commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett speaking directly to New Yorkers about the three viruses now circulating in the state with similar symptoms and the potential to cause serious illness. Produced by the New York State Department of Health, the videos include a short clip and a longer version geared toward parents; and a version aimed specifically at health care providers.  

The Governor also asked 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 encourages New Yorkers to get their annual flu vaccine as flu season is 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 is continuing 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. Advertisements in both English and Spanish language began running last month.  

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

Today's data is summarized briefly below:  

• Cases Per 100k- 34.15 
• 7-Day Average Cases Per 100k- 28.67 
• Test Results Reported-69,818 
• Total Positive-6,674 
• Percent Positive- 9.04%** 
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive-7.86%** 
• Patient Hospitalization-3,719 (-59) 
• Patients Newly Admitted-609 
• Patients in ICU-366 (-8) 
• Patients in ICU with Intubation-164 (+5) 
• Total Discharges-378,076 (+620) 
• New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS-32 
• Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS-60,150 

** Due to the test reporting policy change by the federal Department of Health and Human Services 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 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-76,528 

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 -43,302,276  
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 24 hours-20,217  
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 7 days-131,803  
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series -85.3%  
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series (CDC) -90.3%  
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older who are up to date - 14.1%  
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 12-17 with completed vaccine series -74.3%  
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 12-17 with completed vaccine series (CDC) -76.0%  
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 12-17 who are up to date -5.1%  
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 5-11 with completed vaccine series - 39.7%  
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 5-11 with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 40.5%  
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 5-11 who are up to date - 2.7%  
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 0-4 with completed vaccine series - 6.9%  
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 0-4 who are up to date - 6.9%  
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series-76.2%  
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series(CDC)-80.4%  
• Percent of all New Yorkers who are up to date-12.2%  

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,   December   20, 2022	Wed.   Dec.   21, 2022	Thursday,   December   22, 2022
Bronx	8.51%	8.62%	8.71%
Kings	5.76%	5.80%	6.07%
New York	7.34%	7.35%	7.61%
Queens	8.99%	9.11%	9.36%
Richmond	7.97%	8.13%	8.48%

 

Executive Order No. 26: Declaring a Disaster Emergency in the State of New York

 

WHEREAS, on December 22, 2022 and continuing thereafter, a severe winter storm is expected to create hazardous conditions in New York State posing an imminent danger to public transportation, utility service, public health, and public safety systems statewide;

WHEREAS, the storm is anticipated to produce blizzard-like conditions, high winds, extreme drop in temperatures and flash freezing, and coastal and lakeshore flooding resulting in road closures, travel disruptions, power outages, and damage to public and private property throughout the State, which pose a threat to the public health and safety;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, KATHY HOCHUL, Governor of the State of New York, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution of the State of New York and Section 28 of Article 2-B of the Executive Law, do hereby find that a disaster is imminent for which the affected local governments are unable to respond adequately. Therefore, I hereby declare a State Disaster Emergency effective December 23, 2022 for the entire State of New York. This Executive Order shall be in effect through January 22, 2023; and

FURTHER, pursuant to Section 29 of Article 2-B of the Executive Law, I direct the implementation of the State Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan and authorize, effective December 23, 2022, State agencies as necessary, and the American Red Cross, to take appropriate action to protect State property and to assist affected local governments and individuals in responding to and recovering from this disaster, and to provide such other assistance as necessary to protect the public health and safety;

IN ADDITION, this declaration satisfies the requirements of 49 C.F.R. 390.23(a)(l)(A), which provides relief from Parts 390 through 399 of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR). Such relief from the FMCSR is necessary to ensure that crews can clear vital roadways and hasten the movement of utility power restoration crews into New York State;

FURTHER, by virtue of the authority vested in me by Section 29-a of Article 2-B of the Executive Law to temporarily suspend or modify any statute, local law, ordinance, order, rule, or regulation, or parts thereof, if compliance with such statute, local law, ordinance, order, rule, or regulation would prevent, hinder, or delay action necessary to cope with the disaster emergency, I hereby temporarily suspend or modify, for the period from the date of this Executive Order through January 22, 2023, the following laws:

• Section 97-G of the State Finance Law, to the extent necessary to purchase food, supplies, services, and equipment or furnish or provide various centralized services to assist affected local governments, individuals, and other non-State entities in responding to and recovering from the disaster emergency;
• Section 112 of the State Finance Law, to the extent consistent with Article V, Section I of the State Constitution, and to the extent necessary to add additional work, sites and time to State contracts;
• Section 163 of the State Finance Law and Article 4-C of the Economic Development Law, to the extent necessary to purchase commodities, services, technology and materials without following the standard notice and procurement processes;
• Section 136-a of the State Finance Law, to the extent necessary to combine design and construction services in one contract and/or to obtain design and construction inspection services to respond to and to recover from the disaster emergency;
• Section 38 (1),(2) and (3) of the Highway Law to the extent necessary to authorize the award of emergency contracts;
• Sections 375, 385 and 401 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law to the extent that exemption for vehicles validly registered in other jurisdictions from vehicle registration, equipment and dimension requirements is necessary to assist in preparedness and response to the emergency;
• Section 107.1 of Title 21 of the New York Codes, Rules and Regulations, to the extent necessary to provide the Governor with the authority to regulate traffic and the movement of vehicles on roads, highways, and streets; and
• Section 359-a and Section 2879 of the Public Authorities Law to the extent of allowing the New York State Thruway Authority to purchase necessary goods and services without following the standard procurement processes.

G I V E N under my hand and the Privy Seal of the State in the City of Albany this twenty-second day of December in the year two thousand twenty-two.

BY THE GOVERNOR

Secretary to the Governor