Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress Combating COVID-19 - MAY 31, 2022

 

Statewide 7-Day Average Case Rate Has Consecutively Dropped For Past Two Weeks -- Lowest Level Since April 28

Cases Continue to Decline Across All Regions  

More Than 80 Million Over-The-Counter COVID-19 Tests Distributed To New Yorkers    

26 Statewide Deaths Reported Yesterday

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

"The best way to stay out of the hospital and avoid serious illness from COVID-19 is to remain up to date on vaccine doses and boosters. And, the most effective way to avoid spreading the virus to our loved ones and neighbors is to get tested early—and often," Governor Hochul said. "Over 80 million COVID-19 tests have already made it into the hands of New Yorkers since December 2021. With such great momentum as we head into the summer, now is certainly not the time to get complacent. Let's commit to continuing to use the tools that keep New Yorkers safe."

Today's data is summarized briefly below:

Note: The HERDS Survey (Hospital/Death data) had been paused due to the Holiday weekend. The survey will resume today and the Hospital/Death data will be displayed in tomorrow's report. The numbers below with an asterisk were report on Friday, 5/27.

• Cases Per 100k - 16.54
• 7-Day Average Cases Per 100k - 35.10
• Test Results Reported - 37,244
• Total Positive - 3,233
• Percent Positive - 9.43%**
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 6.82%**
• Patient Hospitalization - 2,426 (-57)*
• Patients Newly Admitted - 405*
• Patients in ICU - 231 (-3)*
• Patients in ICU with Intubation - 88 (-7)*
• Total Discharges - 306,700 (+422)*

• New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 26*
• Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 56,053*

** 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 - 71,570

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 - 38,932,413
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 24 hours - 6,385
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 7 days - 132,567
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose - 92.6%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series - 84.0%
• 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) - 87.4%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 12-17 with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 83.6%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 12-17 with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 73.5%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose - 82.1%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series - 74.5%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 90.6%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 77.4%

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

Borough	Saturday, May 28, 2022	Sunday, May 29, 2022	Monday, May 30, 2022
Bronx	4.22%	4.07%	4.01%
Kings	5.74%	5.66%	5.59%
New York	6.69%	6.48%	6.46%
Queens	6.30%	6.09%	6.03%
Richmond	6.85%	6.69%	6.43%

Compared to the last update by Governor Hochul since no data is put out on weekends and holidays.

Borough	Tuesday, May 24, 2022	Wednesday, May 25, 2022	Thursday, May 26, 2022
Bronx	4.55%	4.30%	4.27%
Kings	6.46%	6.28%	6.00%
New York	6.79%	6.74%	6.62%
Queens	6.70%	6.48%	6.30%
Richmond	7.63%	7.50%	7.20%

Manhattan Man Pleads Guilty To Defrauding Victims Of Millions Of Dollars Through Offering Fictional Investment Opportunities

Ephraim Ullmann Defrauded Multiple Investors With False Statements About Loans and Letters of Credit 

 Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that EPHRAIM JOSEPH ULLMANN pled guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with a scheme to defraud victims by telling them that they could obtain large loans or letters of credit if they provided up-front investments as collateral for the loans. In reality, there were no loans available and the victims were defrauded of more than $3 million that they invested in reliance on ULLMANN’s false statements. ULLMANN pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Richard M. Berman.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said:  “Ephraim Ullmann admitted to participating in a scheme to defraud victims of millions of dollars by making false statements about fictional opportunities to obtain loans and letters of credit. As a result of his guilty plea, Ullmann will now face a term of imprisonment. Our Office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute those who defraud investors with false promises and lies.”

According to the Indictment, public court filings, and statements made in court:

From at least in or about November 2014 through at least in or about 2020, ULLMANN participated in a scheme to defraud investors by falsely telling them that they could obtain letters of credit or loans if they provided initial funds as collateral for the loans. ULLMANN told one group of victims who had started a home building company that he had been hired by an American Indian tribe to use tribal bonds as collateral to obtain large loans for companies seeking financing. ULLMANN told these victims to send hundreds of thousands of dollars to a bank account he provided them, which he described as “seed capital” to obtain the tribal bond-backed loan. In reality, ULLMANN had not been hired by the tribe and there was no loan available for the victims. ULLMANN also sent multiple forged bank documents to the victims to deceive them into thinking that the promised financing was being provided.

In addition to the tribal bond scheme, ULLMANN told a separate group of victims who were involved with starting a new oil company that he could obtain a multi-million dollar letter of credit for the company if the victims provided initial funding. In reality, there was no letter of credit available, and the victims were fraudulently induced to wire millions of dollars to bank accounts identified by ULLMANN and his co-conspirators.

ULLMANN, 58, of New York, New York, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum term of 20 years in prison, and agreed to restitution of $3,032,000.

The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.