Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress Combating COVID-19 - NOVEMBER 10, 2022

 

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

24 Statewide Deaths Reported on November 9

 Governor Kathy Hochul today updated New Yorkers on the state's progress combatting COVID-19 and plan to protect against the spread of viral respiratory infections that become more common in the fall and winter seasons.  

"With the colder weather drawing us indoors, I urge New Yorkers to remain vigilant and to use all available tools to keep themselves, their loved ones and their communities safe and healthy," Governor Hochul said. "Be sure to 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." 

Last week, Governor Hochul launched a new public awareness campaign featuring New York State Health Commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett speaking directly to New Yorkers about three viruses - Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), flu and COVID-19 - 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.  

Governor Hochul continues to remind New Yorkers that children ages 5 and older may now receive the bivalent booster shots that are recommended to increase protection against COVID-19. 

 The Governor also urges 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 department or visit vaccines.gov/find-vaccines/.

Today's data is summarized briefly below:    

• Cases Per 100k - 22.91
• 7-Day Average Cases Per 100k - 20.99
• Test Results Reported - 70,517
• Total Positive - 4,477  
• Percent Positive - 5.80%**     
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 6.08%**      
• Patient Hospitalization - 2,822 (-93)
• Patients Newly Admitted - 424
• Patients in ICU - 286 (-7)
• Patients in ICU with Intubation - 97 (-3)
• Total Discharges - 360,455 (+468)
• New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 24
• Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 59,038 

** 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 - 75,317

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 - 40,377,593
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 24 hours - 3,800
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 7 days - 21,574
• 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) - 89.6%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 12-17 with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 86.1%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 12-17 with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 75.6%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose - 83.7%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series - 75.6%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 93.2%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 79.7%

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,   November   7, 2022	Tuesday,   November   8, 2022	Wednesday,   November   9, 2022
Bronx	6.59%	6.62%	6.49%
Kings	4.50%	5.79%	5.83%
New York	5.74%	5.84%	5.80%
Queens	6.82%	6.84%	6.87%
Richmond	5.44%	5.46%	5.50%

KRVC - 18 Bronx Fine Arts Show Their Work - Sunday, Nov. 20th

 

Don't miss our annual art exhibit and sale! Art at Amalgamated Sunday, November 20th 1-5 pm  Featuring 18 Bronx Fine Artists There will be a shuttle bus running every hour from KRVC, 505 West 236th Street, to Vladeck Hall and back.

Check out our artists at the links below: Sandra Ayala - SandraAyalaPhoto.com -- Sandra Ayala is an artist, who some may say, had the “odds of life stacked against her.” She is a woman, She is born and raised in the South Bronx, She is a first-generation Puerto Rican, She is a living artist. Annette Back- AnnetteBackFineArt.com -- "I am attracted to textures, patterns and shapes found all around me, nature or man made. I like to use photos and text that I paint over with layers upon layers of colors, lines and shades. " Nordia Byfield - "Though nature is my main inspiration, my colorful palette is a reflection of my Caribbean roots and my annual travels to the Caribbean." Doris Cordero - DorisCordero.com -- Doris is a Bronx native and a resident of Riverdale for over 35 years. Her childhood years were spent both in Puerto Rico and the Bronx; a journey between two languages and two cultures.  Valerie Deas - ValerieDeasArt.com - "My work draws on diverse artistic traditions and genres to explore depth and movement in two dimensions, often through abstract figures." Jodi DeCrenza - @jodidecrenza  - " I love to stand in front of my blank canvas where I begin with an idea and then allow my subconscious to take over; creating a composition different than what I originally intended." Janice DeMarino - "Drawing and painting become a simultaneous process to arrive at abstract imagery. The process of painting /drawing is a spontaneous act, for me. Some of the paintings contain other media as well."  Alex Fernandez - @fdez.art - "My artwork explores societal issues that are influenced by our current world and infused with a reflection of my divided Dominican/American heritage. It uses allegory, sarcasm, symbolism, satire & impactful images, to compose works that critique world cultures, religions and social/political issues from the world we live in, with the intent to capture human emotion in response to these." Liz Guarracino - @littlegunzliz - Liz is a professional photographer, artist, and screenwriter from New York.   She studied at the Art Institute of Colorado. Daniel Hauben - DanielHauben.com - Born and raised in the Bronx, Daniel has been spent 35 years capturing the life of the Bronx on canvas and paper. Theresa LaMarca - "I have lived in the Amalgamated Housing Cooperative for about thirty years. I worked at St. Barnabas Nursing Home as a recreational therapist where I used my artistic skills in creating vibrant programs for the residents. I studied at the School for Visual Arts." Ira Merritt - IraMerritt.net - Ira Merritt is a Bronx resident for 71 years. As a mixed media artist Ira Merritt’s images begin with the photographic process and then evolve through assemblage, montage, collage, and drawing.  Jordan Moss - JordanMossArt.com - Photographer and mixed media artist. "Originally from Long Island, I have lived in, and loved, the Bronx since 1992." Riverdale Art Association - RiverdaleArtAssociation.org - The Riverdale Art Association consists of artists who share their work and their love of art with each other and the community. Open to a range of skill levels, the Association provides an opportunity for aspiring and professional artists to exhibit their work together, creating a sense of community where new avenues of creativity can be explored and expressed.  Nina Seigenfeld - @riverdale_bx_rocks Nina Seigenfeld Velazquez studied fine art with a concentration in painting at the School of Visual Arts from 1979-83. In 1983 she left SVA and co-founded New Math Gallery with fellow SVA student, Mario Fernandez. New Math was one of the premier art galleries during the 1980s East Village art movement. Dennis Shelton - @sheltondl.artist - "Wood Assemblage, Cut and Glue Collage, Mixed Media and Acrylic Painting are my mediums of choice."  Justin Shelton - Justin is currently a freshman at Lehman College. Jose-Luis Tejeda - @jl_tejedarts - Artist and Educator /Teacher at Board of Education of New York City..! Live Jazz Piano all day Featuring Sarah Jane Cion

Look forward to seeing you! KRVCDC.ORG/EVENTS

NYS OASAS ANNOUNCES OPENING OF NEW WITHDRAWAL AND STABILIZATION PROGRAM IN ROCHESTER

 

New Program Offers 18 beds, Supported by OASAS Funding

The New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (NYS OASAS) today announced the opening of the new Gregory E. Polisseni Living Hope Treatment Center in Rochester, operated by Villa of Hope. This new medically supervised withdrawal and stabilization program provides 18 beds to assist individuals who are in withdrawal from substances and connect them with appropriate treatment. OASAS provided more than $4 million in capital funding for this project, and is also supporting the program with $540,000 in annual operational funding.

“Helping people stabilize and manage their withdrawal from substance use disorders is an important part of the continuum of addiction care. It is often the first step for many people in their journey to becoming healthier.” OASAS Commissioner Chinazo Cunningham said. “The opening of this new program continues our efforts to meet the needs of people across New York State, and provide them the help and resources they need to live healthier lives.”

Withdrawal and stabilization programs, often referred to as detox, provide immediate care for individuals who are intoxicated or incapacitated by substance use. These programs manage the medical and psychological complications of withdrawal, and assess and refer individuals to further treatment as appropriate.

The Gregory E. Polisseni Living Hope Treatment Center will provide short-term, around the clock care for people in withdrawal, and direct them towards other services in the community. It is located at 3300 Dewey Ave in Rochester.

In addition to this program, Villa of Hope also operates programs that offer residential rehabilitation services for youth and outpatient treatment for addiction, as well as community prevention services.

 

Christina Gullo, President/CEO of Villa of Hope, said “Individuals and families seeking help should not have to travel outside Monroe County to find it. We need to eliminate barriers and stigma to get people the help they need – when and where they need it. Drugs are killing our friends, neighbors, and young people – they are killing our communities. We all need to step up and take on this challenge. Villa of Hope is grateful to partner with NYS OASAS to tackle this crisis and serve individuals with substance use needs in our new Living Hope Treatment Center.”

The New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports oversees one of the nation’s largest substance use disorder systems of care with approximately 1,700 prevention, treatment and recovery programs serving over 680,000 individuals per year. This includes the direct operation of 12 Addiction Treatment Centers where our doctors, nurses, and clinical staff provide inpatient and residential services to approximately 8,000 individuals per year. OASAS is the single designated state agency responsible for the coordination of state-federal relations in the area of addiction services.

New Yorkers struggling with an addiction, or whose loved ones are struggling, can find help and hope by calling the state’s toll-free, 24-hour, 7-day-a-week HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) or by texting HOPENY (Short Code 467369). 

Available addiction treatment including crisis/detox, inpatient, residential, or outpatient care can be found using the NYS OASAS Treatment Availability Dashboard at FindAddictionTreatment.ny.gov or through the NYS OASAS website. 

If you, or a loved one, have experienced insurance obstacles related to treatment or need help filing an appeal for a denied claim, contact the CHAMP helpline by phone at 888-614-5400 or email at ombuds@oasas.ny.gov.

Governor Hochul Issues Proclamation Celebrating Puerto Rican Heritage Month in New York State

Read the Proclamation Here

 Governor Kathy Hochul issued a proclamation celebrating Puerto Rican Heritage Month in New York State. The month-long observance will recognize the longstanding, strong partnership between New York State and Puerto Rico and highlight the important contributions of people of Puerto Rican descent in the state. The proclamation also acknowledges the impact of Hurricane Fiona, which struck the island this past September, and ongoing support, supplies, and other relief efforts to people in Puerto Rico and its government.

"With one of the largest Puerto Rican populations in our nation, New York has a rich history and a long connection with the people of Puerto Rico," Governor Hochul said. "By designating November as Puerto Rican Heritage Month, we are honoring and celebrating the longstanding contributions of Puerto Rican communities across the state in all areas - business, arts and culture, science and technology, athletics, public service, and more."

The annual observance of Puerto Rican Heritage Month will highlight the traditions and customs of the Puerto Rican community, as well as its accomplishments here in New York, across America, and in Puerto Rico. The month-long celebration will spotlight the contributions of Puerto Rican communities across New York on social, cultural, and economic development of the state and nation and how they have established strong foundations of life in the neighborhoods of New York City and across the state.

The proclamation also acknowledged the devastating impacts of Hurricane Fiona on the island and the resiliency that Puerto Ricans have showed in the aftermath. Since Hurricane Maria, New York has helped Puerto Rico secure billions of dollars in federal funding from FEMA to recover and rebuild the island's energy infrastructure, in addition to NYPA performing technical assessments of powerplants and substations on the island. In the wake of Hurricane Fiona, the worst storm to hit the island since Hurricane Maria, Governor Hochul announced New York State actions to assist Puerto Rico in relief efforts. These efforts have further strengthened New York's long-standing commitment to help Puerto Rico in its reconstruction and recovery.

Bank Insider Pleads Guilty To Bank Bribery For Facilitating Multimillion Dollar Wire Fraud Scheme

 

 Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that LUIS RIVAS pled guilty to conspiring to commit bank bribery in connection with a business email compromise scheme that defrauded businesses of millions of dollars.  RIVAS was the seventh person charged in this international scheme. 

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Bank employee Luis Rivas used his inside knowledge and access to open bank accounts for fake businesses so that his co-conspirators could receive and launder millions of dollars from victims who had been deceived.  Now, Rivas is rightly being held accountable for his crime.  Today’s guilty plea reflects this Office’s commitment to investigating and prosecuting individuals who abuse positions of trust at financial institutions to engage in corrupt criminal conduct.”

According to the Indictment and other public filings and proceedings in the case: 

From at least in or about 2018 through at least in or about May 2020, LUIS RIVAS, who at the time of the offense was a financial sales advisor at a Houston branch of a national bank, agreed to accept payments in exchange for helping others open business bank accounts for phony companies.  Those bank accounts were then used to receive more than $2.2 million in fraud proceeds.  The money came from a business email compromise scheme in which businesses were defrauded by co-conspirators who impersonated, via email, individuals and businesses in the course of otherwise ordinary financial transactions, thereby fraudulently inducing the victims to transfer funds to bank accounts that the perpetrators controlled.  The names of the phony companies used for the bank accounts that RIVAS helped open were purposefully chosen to mirror the names of the true counterparties in those business transactions.

RIVAS also helped the perpetrators access and launder the fraud proceeds.  In particular, RIVAS assisted with unfreezing, transferring, and withdrawing money in transactions designed to conceal and disguise the funds’ source, ownership, and control. 

RIVAS was generally paid between $500 to $1,500 for each account that he helped open and each transaction where he provided assistance.  He received, in total, approximately $45,000 for his corrupt insider services.

RIVAS, 36, of Houston, Texas, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank bribery, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.  As part of his guilty plea, RIVAS agreed to forfeit $45,000 to the United States.   

The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as RIVAS’s sentence will be determined by the judge.  RIVAS is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge P. Kevin Castel on March 21, 2023.

Mr. Williams praised the work of Homeland Security Investigations for their investigative efforts and ongoing support and assistance with the case. 

Attorney General’s Office of Special Investigation Opens Investigation into Civilian Death in the Bronx

 

The New York Attorney General’s Office of Special Investigation (OSI) has opened an investigation into the death of a civilian who died on November 3, 2022, following an encounter with members of the New York City Police Department (NYPD).

Late in the morning on November 3, two men were involved in a physical fight in a shop near the intersection of East Gun Hill Road and Hull Avenue in the Bronx. During the fight, one of the men stabbed the other and fled the shop. The other pursued him on the street and shot at him. NYPD officers nearby saw the civilian firing his gun and then fired their guns at him. The civilian was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The NYPD recovered a gun at the scene.

Pursuant to New York State Executive Law Section 70-b, OSI assesses every incident reported to it where a police officer or a peace officer, including a corrections officer, may have caused the death of a person, by an act or omission. Under the law, the officer may be on-duty or off-duty, and the decedent may be armed or unarmed. Also, the decedent may or may not be in custody or incarcerated. If OSI’s assessment indicates an officer caused the death, OSI proceeds to conduct a full investigation of the incident.

These are preliminary facts and subject to change. 

MAYOR ADAMS CONSOLIDATES CITYWIDE CLEANING FUNCTIONS TO ‘GET STUFF CLEAN,’ ANNOUNCES $14.5 MILLION IN NEW FUNDING FOR CLEAN STREETS AND PARKS

 

Adams Administration Will End ‘No Man’s Land’ Areas of Dirty Conditions Around Five Boroughs That Have Been Neglected

 

Mayor Adams Doubles Down on Cleanliness Investments After July Cleanliness Funding Already Showing Results

 

DSNY to Add 200 New Sanitation Workers to Keep Public Spaces Clean

New York City Mayor Eric Adams, Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi, New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) Commissioner Jessica Tisch, New York City Department of Parks and Recreation (NYC Parks) Commissioner Sue Donoghue, New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala, New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, and New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan today announced $14.5 million in new funding to create a cleaner city through a major upgrade to cleanliness protocols across the five boroughs. The ‘Get Stuff Clean’ initiative will invest $14.5 million this fiscal year alone to clean more than 1,000 ‘No Man’s Land’ neglected areas around the city, increase litter basket service, expand camera enforcement against illegal dumping, and bring on additional rat exterminators — resulting in faster and more reliable cleaning of every corner of the city. 

 

“From day one of this administration, we have been focused on ‘Getting Stuff Done,’ and, today, we are specifically delivering on the promise to ‘Get Stuff Clean’ for New Yorkers,” said Mayor Adams. “A big part of today’s initiative is cross-agency collaboration that will result in cleaner streets, more jobs, fewer rodents, and improved quality of life for our city’s 8.8 million residents. This $14.5 million investment will help build a cleaner, more welcoming city across all five boroughs and target over 1,000 areas that have long been neglected. New Yorkers are tired of seeing overflowing litter baskets and trash under overpasses, so our administration intends to deliver a more functional and more well-kept city for all.”  

 

‘Get Stuff Clean’ includes the following initiatives and new funding to keep New York City’s streets, parks, and public spaces clean: 

• 200 new DSNY workers will be added to support cleanliness across the five boroughs.  
• NYC Parks will add new evening shifts for hot spot cleaning and rat mitigation within city parks, made up of 240 NYC Parks’ posts. 
• $7.1 million for DSNY this fiscal year alone and more than $6.5 million annually thereafter to regularly clean approximately 1,500 ‘No Man’s Land’ areas around the city — areas that past administrations put under the jurisdiction of other city agencies without dedicated cleanliness resources. DSNY will also organize a new unit, the Targeted Neighborhood Taskforce (TNT), to give these areas regularly scheduled cleanings. 
• $4.9 million for DSNY to implement Phase Two of the litter basket servicing plan this year, and resources in upcoming years, to service litter baskets at the entrances of bridges and along the perimeters of city parks. Phase One of the litter basket service plan that went into effect on July 1^st is already showing promising results: A 55 percent reduction in litter basket complaints, bringing complaints back in line with pre-pandemic levels. Phase Two covers additional baskets at some of the city’s most highly-trafficked tourist areas. 
• $470,000 this fiscal year and $1.1 million annually thereafter for a DSNY and DOT partnership to take on regular cleanings of highway on- and off-ramps. Like bridges and park edges, highway ramps are often one of the first places seen by visitors to New York City. They must be cleaned thoroughly and regularly, but this DSNY function was defunded at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and is now being restored. 
• The Adams administration is deepening its investment in dumping enforcement by adding $1.4 million this fiscal year, and nearly $400,000 annually thereafter, for expanded camera enforcement against the scourge of illegal dumping. People engaged in illegal dumping will face $4,000 fines and vehicle impounds on a regular basis with these new cameras as part of an expansion of a highly successful and popular enforcement strategy. 
• $630,000 this fiscal year and nearly $1 million in the next year for DOHMH to expand rat mitigation efforts. 
• DEP will accelerate hiring 50 additional staff to inspect and clean sewer grates, also known as catch basins. Clean, clear, and unclogged sewer grates minimize flooding and improve the functionality of the sewer system.

“New York City is one of the densest cities in the world and New Yorkers occupy each and every corner, so each and every corner must be clean,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi. “With additional investment, elbow grease, and smart interagency coordination, our forgotten, neglected spaces like median strips and green space will get and stay clean and litter free for all New Yorkers to enjoy.”

 

“As children, families, or any New Yorker strolls through their neighborhood, they deserve a clean environment,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom. “They should have certainty that the city will tend to trash, rats, and other quality of life issues. This initiative adds to the city’s ability to do that. Thank you to the teams across the city doing this work and to our interagency partners for coming together to deliver the services New Yorkers need.”

 

“Over the last two months, we worked with our agency partners to identify parts of the city that have suffered from gaps in cleaning, be it litter removal or basket service,” said DSNY Commissioner Tisch. “Now, we have 200 new sanitation workers coming on board who are going to close those gaps. I want to thank Mayor Adams for giving us the funding to do what we do best: ‘Get Stuff Clean.’”  

 

“Parks are one of the most utilized destinations in New York City—people near and far visit them for fun, relaxation, and their mental and physical health,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Donoghue. “We’re grateful to Mayor Adams for leading this strategic path forward, affording us the opportunity to create a second shift to address our most heavily used spaces; and collaborating with our sister agencies on additive services to aid our hard-working staff in keeping our parks and their perimeters clean!” 

 

“Litter on the street can get carried by rain water to the storm drains where it often blocks the flow of water into the sewers,” said DEP Commissioner Aggarwala. “Litter is a top contributor to flooding and standing water in the city and we applaud this initiative and look forward to working with our agency partners to Get Stuff Clean for New Yorkers!”

 

“Trash on highway ramps or along our iconic bridges can add to a sense of disorder that makes these public spaces less welcoming – for New Yorkers and tourists alike,” said DOT Commissioner Rodriguez. “DOT is proud of the work that we have undertaken to keep these spaces clean in the past, and we’re excited to do even more in partnership with DSNY to make all these public spaces shine. Thanks to Mayor Adams’ incredible leadership on and investment in ‘Get Stuff Clean’ the future and cleanliness of New York City’s public realm is bright!”

 

“Public health is, at the end of the day, about making people’s lives better and helping them live healthier, longer lives”, said DOHMH Commissioner Dr. Vasan. “That comes in many diverse forms of action, including things like pest control and sanitation and addressing social determinants of health like transportation. And we rely on our partners in this vision, like NYC Parks, DSNY, and DOT, and we can’t wait to support this work to get our city clean and to make New York City the healthiest big city in the world.” 

 

As part of the administration’s “Blueprint for New York City’s Economic Recovery,” the city committed to prioritize street-by-street cleaning, and public space revitalization. These cleanliness investments represent an important step toward advancing those goals.