Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress Combating COVID-19 - DECEMBER 15, 2022

 

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

27 Statewide Deaths Reported Yesterday

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

"With the holiday season upon us, I urge all New Yorkers to remain vigilant and continue to 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 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. Last week, the Governor updated New Yorkers on the state's winter health preparedness efforts. 

Last week, 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. 

The New York State Department of Health issued a report last week showing a 64 percent week-over-week jump in lab-confirmed flu cases across New York and week-over-week hospitalizations up 58 percent. Cases of influenza have now been detected in all 62 counties across the state, highlighting the need for New Yorkers to take steps and precautions that will reduce the risk of severe illness for children and adults.  

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 department or visit vaccines.gov/find-vaccines/. Today's data is summarized briefly below:­

• Cases Per 100k - 35.59
• 7-Day Average Cases Per 100k - 27.94
• Test Results Reported - 82,148
• Total Positive - 6,956
• Percent Positive - 7.95%**     
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 6.68%**      
• Patient Hospitalization - 3,572 (+1)
• Patients Newly Admitted - 612
• Patients in ICU - 342 (+0)
• Patients in ICU with Intubation - 156 (+13)
• Total Discharges - 374,137 (+554)
• New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 27
• Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 59,895

** 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 - 76,269

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.  

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,   Dec.   12, 2022	Tuesday,   Dec.  13, 2022	Wed.   Dec.   14,2022
Bronx	7.90%	8.00%	8.16%
Kings	5.14%	4.68%	4.71%
New York	6.93%	6.87%	7.12%
Queens	9.09%	8.94%	8.94%
Richmond	6.46%	6.37%	6.28%

Member Of Money Laundering Operation Pleads Guilty In Connection With $5 Million Online Vehicle Sale Scam

 

Other Defendants Involved in the Scheme Pled Guilty Previously

 Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that Lithuanian national STANISLAV TUNKEVIC pled guilty in Manhattan federal court to conspiracy to commit bank fraud in connection with a scheme to launder fraud proceeds derived from an online vehicle sale scam that generated at least $5.3 million from dozens of defrauded consumers.  TUNKEVIC pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Tunkevic and his co-defendants have admitted to getting paid to use fake documents and shell companies to open bank accounts in order to receive criminal proceeds.  Without their knowing involvement, online fraudsters would not be able to profit from their illegal schemes.  Tunkevic and his co-defendants will now face prison terms and be required to forfeit their ill-gotten gains.”

As alleged in the Complaint and the Indictments and based on statements made in court:    

At various times from at least March 2019 through approximately March 2021, TUNKEVIC and co-defendants KAROL KAMINSKI, ARTURAS GILYS, and SVETLANA VAIDOTIENE were Lithuanian nationals who were recruited in Lithuania to travel to New York City in order to participate in a money laundering operation based in Brooklyn.  The operation was coordinated in New York City by co-defendant NATALIA KORZHA and also involved her son and co-defendant VLADISLAV NECEAEV.  Under the direction of KORZHA, NECEAEV, TUNKEVIC, KAMINSKI, GILYS, VAIDOTIENE, and other co-conspirators opened numerous bank accounts in the name of shell companies for the purpose of laundering money stolen from consumers who were trying to buy vehicles online.  In exchange, the defendants received a cut of the victims’ money. 

Other members of the conspiracy, pretending to represent car dealerships, advertised vehicles that they did not own and were not authorized to sell on fake websites with domain names that sounded like legitimate car dealerships or through online marketplaces like Craigslist and eBay.  Victims who responded to those advertisements and negotiated a purchase price were instructed by the purported sellers to wire payment to accounts that NECEAEV, KAMINSKI, TUNKEVIC, GILYS, VAIDOTIENE, and other co-conspirators opened.  Once the payments cleared, the defendants quickly withdrew the funds before the victims realized they had been defrauded.  The victims never received the vehicles they thought they had bought or any refunds from the fake sellers.  In total, dozens of victims were defrauded of a total of at least $5.3 million. 

TUNKEVIC, 48, of Vilnius, Lithuania, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and agreed to pay forfeiture and restitution in the amount of $405,000.  TUNKEVIC is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Torres on March 15, 2023.

KORZHA, 50, of Brooklyn, New York, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud on May 4, 2022.  She was sentenced by Judge Torres on September 7, 2022, to 48 months in prison and was ordered to pay forfeiture and restitution in the amount of $5,386,538.

NECEAEV, 29, of Brooklyn, New York, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud on March 14, 2022.  He was sentenced by Judge Torres on September 7, 2022, to 18 months in prison and was ordered to pay forfeiture and restitution in the amount of $458,300.

KAMINSKI, 32, of Vilnius, Lithuania, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud on November 9, 2022, and agreed to pay forfeiture and restitution in the amount of $338,700.  KAMINSKI is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Torres on March 15, 2023.

GILYS, 41, of Vilnius, Lithuania, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud on November 15, 2022, and agreed to pay forfeiture and restitution in the amount of $321,700.  GILYS is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Torres on March 15, 2023.

VAIDOTIENE, 55, of Vilnius, Lithuania, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud on September 20, 2022, and agreed to pay forfeiture and restitution in the amount of $271,000.  VAIDOTIENE is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Torres on January 18, 2023.

The offense of conspiracy to commit bank fraud carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison and a maximum fine of $1,000,000.  The crime of conspiracy to commit money laundering carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $500,000 or twice the value of the property involved in the transaction.

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

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of Homeland Security Investigations and the New York City Police Department.  He also thanked the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs of the Department’s Criminal Division, the United States Marshals Service, the Prosecutor General’s Office of the Republic of Lithuania, and the Lithuanian Criminal Police Bureau for their assistance in this investigation.