Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress Combating COVID-19 - MARCH 9, 2023

 

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

14 Statewide Deaths Reported Yesterday

 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. 

"I urge every New Yorker 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 be sure to 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 the flu and COVID-19 and reduce the patient burden on local hospitals. The Governor reiterated these basic steps when she updated New Yorkers on the state's health preparedness efforts this winter.  

The New York State Department of Health recently launched a 12-week campaign on television, social media and streaming services to encourage New Yorkers with underlying medical conditions to recognize the importance of getting and staying up-to-date with the recommended COVID-19 bivalent booster to avoid serious illness or death. These conditions including being 65 or older, pregnant, obese, diabetic, or suffering from heart or lung disease, or having a weakened immune system. 

Additionally, the Department of Health released its weekly flu surveillance report for the week ending on February 25 and showing influenza remaining geographically widespread throughout the state for a twenty-first consecutive week, with a total of 317,694 positive cases reported this season to date. The report found that confirmed cases statewide decreased 23 percent to 1,887 for the week, while overall hospitalizations were up 1 percent from the previous week, at 186 hospitalizations across the state.    

There were two outbreaks in acute care and long-term care facilities, the report determined. There was one influenza-associated pediatric death reported for the week, for a total of 11 statewide.    

With flu season continuing, Governor Hochul reminds all New Yorkers that it's not too late to get their annual flu vaccine. 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 Health Department 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. For information about flu vaccine clinics, contact the local health department or visit vaccines.gov/find-vaccines/.   

Governor Hochul also continues to urge New Yorkers to get their bivalent COVID-19 vaccine boosters. In December, the New York State Department of Health announced new guidance for bivalent COVID-19 booster doses, which are now available for eligible children down to 6 months of age.    

The updated boosters are the first to be targeted to the original virus strain and recently circulating variants and are recommended for young New Yorkers and all those eligible. 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.     

Today's data is summarized briefly below:

• Cases Per 100k - 6.83
• 7-Day Average Cases Per 100k - 6.37
• Test Results Reported - 44,323
• Total Positive - 1,335
• Percent Positive - 2.71%**
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 2.51%
• Patient Hospitalization - 1,562 (-68)
• Patients Newly Admitted - 200
• Patients in ICU - 153 (-5)
• Patients in ICU with Intubation - 47 (+1)
• Total Discharges - 405,736 (+240)
• New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 14
• Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 61,964

** 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 - 78,828

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,   March   6, 2023	Tuesday,   March   7, 2023	Wed.   March   8, 2023
Bronx	1.77%	1.72%	1.70%
Kings	1.44%	1.21%	1.10%
New York	2.50%	2.41%	2.34%
Queens	2.08%	1.97%	2.01%
Richmond	2.15%	1.79%	1.68%

DEC Spring Turkey Season Opens May 1 in Suffolk County

 

Hunters Wishing to Hunt on DEC-Managed Land Must Enter Drawing by March 13

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced today that the 2023 Spring Turkey Season in Suffolk County will begin Sunday, May 1, and continue through May 31, consistent with management practices in New York State and the Northeast. All of Wildlife Management Unit 1C (Suffolk County) is open for spring turkey hunting. The demand for spring turkey hunting on DEC-managed lands makes it necessary for hunters to follow specific access procedures to ensure equal hunting opportunities for all.

DEC-managed properties open to shotgun spring turkey hunting require entering a drawing and advance reservations. To enter the drawing, hunters must complete the Long Island State Lands Spring Turkey Drawing Registration Form. Interested hunters are required to fill out their name, email address, and DEC customer ID, and list the top three properties they wish to hunt. Once the survey is completed and submitted, the hunter has been entered into the drawing. All entries must be received by 4:45 p.m. on March 13. Hunters will receive a drawing number via email after submitting their entry. Anyone unable to complete the online survey should contact the office at (631) 444-0310 before March 13.

For general questions, or for those unable to access the survey online, please call DEC's Region 1 Wildlife office at (631) 444-0310. Hunters may submit one entry only. Any individual who sends more than one entry will have all of their entries removed from the drawing. Hunting parties are limited to three hunters. Each member of a three-hunter party may send one entry.

For more information on DEC-managed properties open for the spring turkey hunt please visit https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/8373.html

Spring Wild Turkey Season Specifics

Season Dates: Month of May, including weekends

Hunting Hours: One-half hour before sunrise until noon

Manner of Taking: Hunters may hunt with a shotgun or handgun loaded with shot no larger than number 2 and no smaller than number 9, or with a bow. Hunters may not use crossbows or rifles. Handguns are not permitted while hunting on State lands.

Valid License and Tags: Hunters must have a valid New York State hunting license and a turkey permit to participate in the hunt.

Spring Turkey Season Bag Limit for WMU 1C: No more than one bearded turkey per day; and No more than one bearded turkey in wildlife management unit (WMU) 1C.

Areas Open for the Spring Season: All of Wildlife Management Unit 1C (Suffolk County) is open for spring turkey hunting. The demand for spring turkey hunting on DEC-managed lands makes it necessary for hunters to follow specific access procedure to ensure equal hunting opportunities for all. More information is available on the DEC website at DEC’s Hunting on Long Island webpage. Properties open to shotgun spring turkey hunting require entering a drawing and advance reservations. Lands that will be open for spring turkey on Long Island include:

 

DEC-Managed Lands in Suffolk County:

Calverton Pine Barrens State Forest – Archery Only

East Bartlett Pine Barrens State Forest – Archery Only

Carmans River Pine Barrens State Forest – Archery Only

Ridge Conservation Area – Archery Only

Rocky Point Pine Barrens State Forest – Shotgun and Archery

Westhampton Dwarf Pine Plains Preserve – Shotgun and Archery

Henrys Hollow Pine Barrens State Forest – Shotgun and Archery

 

Cooperative Hunting Areas that will allow spring hunting season are:

Barcelona Neck Cooperative Hunting Area - Shotgun and Archery

David A. Sarnoff Cooperative Hunting Area - Shotgun and Archery

Kings Park Cooperative Hunting Area – Archery Only

Otis Pike Preserve Cooperative Hunting Area - Shotgun and Archery

Tidal Wetlands Properties (archery only, no reservation required)

Fireplace Neck

Havens Point

Long Beach Bay

Additional information on New York State turkey hunting regulations can be found on DEC’s website: https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/32162.html.

Successful hunters are strongly encouraged to bring harvested birds to the Ridge Hunter Check Station located at 484 Randall Road, Ridge, NY, following the hunt. DEC staff will be recording biological data to help evaluate the season and population structure. Visiting the check station is voluntary, but harvested birds must be reported within 48 hours of harvest by phone (1-866-426-3778) or via DEC’s Game Harvest Reporting webpage. For check station hours of operation, visit DEC’s Hunting on Long Island webpage or call the Region 1 Wildlife Office (631-444-0310).

DEC-managed lands open to shotgun turkey hunting will be closed to other users from two hours before sunrise until noon throughout the season. Properties owned by local, county, and/or state (State Parks) governments may or may not allow spring turkey hunting.

Hunters and recreationalists should reach out to the landowner to determine if access restrictions are in place. For more information on hunting seasons and regulations, please visit the DEC’s hunting webpage. For tips and further details on regulations on turkey hunting, contact DEC regional wildlife office at (631) 444-0310 or visit DEC’s Turkey Hunting Regulations webpage.

Additional information can be found at the following webpages:

Hunting on Long Island - https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/8373.html

Long Island Public Hunting Areas - https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/40399.html

Public Hunting Opportunities in Suffolk County, Long Island - https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/40414.html

Conditions for Use of DEC-Managed Lands in Suffolk County - https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/40419.html

Housing Lottery Launches For Compass Six Residences At 1923 West Farms Road In West Farms, The Bronx

The affordable housing lottery has launched for Compass Six Residences, a 16-story mixed-use building at 1923 West Farms Road in West Farms, The Bronx. Designed by Dattner Architects and developed by Monadnock Development, the structure yields 251 residences. Available on NYC Housing Connect are 156 units for residents at 30 to 80 percent of the area median income (AMI), ranging in eligible income from $16,183 to $132,400.

Units feature high ceilings, energy-efficient appliances, intercoms, and open-floor layouts. Residents have access to an outdoor courtyard, fitness center, bike storage lockers, a shared laundry room, community center, and an on-site resident manager.

There are 20 studios with a monthly rent ranging from $397 to $1,314 for incomes ranging from $16,183 to $85,440. There are 78 one-bedrooms with a monthly rent ranging from $503 to $1,651 for incomes ranging from $20,160 to $96,080. There are 39 two-bedrooms with a monthly rent ranging from $598 to $1,974 for incomes ranging from $24,275 to $115,280. There are 19 three-bedrooms with a monthly rent ranging from $683 to $2,273 for incomes ranging from $28,080 to $132,400.

Prospective renters must meet income and household size requirements to apply for these apartments. Applications must be postmarked or submitted online no later than May 8, 2023.

Permits Filed For 2067 Anthony Avenue In Fordham Heights, The Bronx

Permits have been filed for an eight-story mixed-use building at 2067 Anthony Avenue in Fordham Heights, The Bronx. Located between East Burnside Avenue and East 180th Street, the interior lot is two blocks south of the 182-183 Streets subway station, serviced by the B and D trains. Boris Babakhanov of Bolex GC Corp is listed as the owner behind the applications.

The proposed 75-foot-tall development will yield 30,925 square feet, with 28,722 square feet designated for residential space and 2,202 square feet for community facility space. The building will have 52 residences, most likely rentals based on the average unit scope of 552 square feet. The concrete-based structure will also have a 30-foot-long rear yard and a daycare on the first floor.

Issac & Stern Architects is listed as the architect of record.

Demolition permits were filed in May 2022 for the two-story building on the site. An estimated completion date has not been announced.

Governor Hochul Announces $3.75 Million to Support Outreach and Engagement Services for Addiction

Expansion of Street Outreach Services Aimed at Reaching Vulnerable and Underserved Populations

Initiative the Latest to Utilize New York State's Opioid Settlement Fund

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that up to $3.75 million is available to expand outreach and engagement services designed to connect vulnerable populations with addiction supports and other health services. Administered by the State Office of Addiction Services and Supports, the initiative is the latest to tap New York State's Opioid Settlement Fund and specifically designed to reach individuals in high-need populations that may not have access to care otherwise.

"We are taking an all-hands-on-deck approach to addressing the opioid crisis across New York State, including in underserved areas that are lacking addiction services and supports," Governor Hochul said. "The street outreach services funded through these grants will help marginalized populations access the life-saving care they need to break the vicious cycle of addiction."

The funding will provide up to 12 awards of $250,000 to cover operating expenses for street outreach services. The funding will also provide 10 awards of $75,000 for providers outside of the five-county New York City region to purchase vehicles for use in engaging hard-to-reach populations.

The outreach teams visit areas where high-risk populations tend to congregate — places such as parks and encampments of people experiencing homelessness — to offer overdose prevention and education, naloxone distribution, and basic supplies. During these visits, outreach workers also attempt to identify additional engagement opportunities that can help these individuals mitigate the harm associated with substance use.

OASAS now funds 20 providers offering these services in New York, Bronx, Richmond, Erie, Monroe, Sullivan, Tompkins and Albany counties. The goal through this funding opportunity is to establish one provider each in Kings County and Queens County, with 10 others to serve areas outside of New York City.

Providers certified by OASAS and the State Office of Mental Health, hospitals, syringe service programs, drug user health hubs, and federally qualified health centers are eligible to apply for the funding.

New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports Commissioner Chinazo Cunningham said, "We are continuing to work on addressing barriers that keep some people from accessing these life-saving services and meeting them wherever they are to connect them to the help that they need. These services have proven successful in the past and their expansion to more parts of this state will enable more people to access critical help and support."

New York State will receive more than $2 billion through various settlement agreements with opioid manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies that were secured by Attorney General Letitia James. A portion of the funding from these settlements will go directly to municipalities, with the remainder deposited into a dedicated fund to support prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and recovery efforts to address the ongoing opioid epidemic.

The same legislation that established the dedicated fund also created the Opioid Settlement Fund Advisory Board, which is tasked with making recommendations on how settlement dollars should be allocated to best serve those in need. Board members issued their first recommendations on November 1, identifying the expansion of harm reduction services and treatment as top priorities.

New York continues to grapple with opioid-related deaths, with fentanyl now involved in most overdose deaths statewide. The latest data from the State Department of Health on opioid-related deaths is available here.

New York State has instituted an aggressive, multi-pronged approach to address the overdose epidemic, and created a nation-leading continuum of addiction care with full prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and recovery services. The state has worked to expand access to traditional services, including crisis services, inpatient, outpatient, and residential treatment programs, as well as medication to treat addiction, mobile treatment, and transportation services.

Governor Hochul was a member of the New York State Heroin and Opioid Task Force, which recommended new, non-traditional services, including recovery centers, youth clubhouses, expanded peer services, and open access centers to provide immediate assessments and referrals to care in 2016. These services have since been established in numerous communities around the state and have helped people in need access care closer to where they live.

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.

Operators And Attorney Of Global Multi-Million-Dollar Cryptocurrency Ponzi Scheme “AirBit Club” Plead Guilty

 

 Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today the guilty pleas of PABLO RENATO RODRIGUEZ, GUTEMBERG DOS SANTOS, SCOTT HUGHES, CECILIA MILLAN, KARINA CHAIREZ, and JACKIE AGUILAR for their roles in an internationally coordinated fraud and money laundering ring that deceived individuals into investing in AirBit Club, a purported cryptocurrency mining and trading company.  AirBit Club co-founder DOS SANTOS pled guilty before United States District Judge George B. Daniels on October 21, 2021.  Senior AirBit Club promoters CHAIREZ, MILLAN, and AGUILAR pled guilty before Judge Daniels on January 31, February 8, and February 22, 2023, respectively, and are scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Daniels on June 28, July 25, and June 27, 2023, respectively.  SCOTT HUGHES, an attorney who laundered Airbit Club fraud proceeds for RODRIGUEZ and DOS SANTOS, pled guilty before Judge Daniels on March 2, 2023, and is scheduled to be sentenced on August 9, 2023.  Airbit Club co-founder RODRIGUEZ pled guilty before Judge Daniels and is scheduled to be sentenced on July 25, 2023.  As part of their guilty pleas, the defendants collectively have been ordered to forfeit their fraudulent proceeds of Airbit Club, which include seized or restrained assets consisting of U.S. currency, Bitcoin, and real estate currently valued at approximately $100 million.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “The defendants took advantage of the growing hype around cryptocurrency to con unsuspecting victims around the world out of millions of dollars with false promises that their money was being invested in cryptocurrency trading and mining.  Instead of doing any cryptocurrency trading or mining on behalf of investors, the defendants built a Ponzi scheme and took the victims’ money to line their own pockets. These guilty pleas send a clear message that we are coming after all of those who seek to exploit cryptocurrency to commit fraud.”    

According to the Superseding Indictment, the defendants’ statements when pleading guilty, and statements made in related court filings and proceedings:

RODRIGUEZ, DOS SANTOS, HUGHES, MILLAN, CHAIREZ, and AGUILAR participated in a coordinated scheme in which victim-investors (the “Victims”) were induced to invest in AirBit Club based on the false promise of guaranteed profits in exchange for cash investments in club “memberships” (the “AirBit Club Scheme” or the “Scheme”).  Beginning in late 2015, AirBit Club, through its founders, RODRIGUEZ and DOS SANTOS, as well as its promoters (the “Promoters”), including MILLAN, CHAIREZ, and AGUILAR, marketed AirBit Club as a multilevel marketing club in the cryptocurrency industry.  Promoters falsely promised Victims that AirBit Club earned returns on cryptocurrency mining and trading and that Victims would earn passive, guaranteed daily returns on any membership purchased.

RODRIGUEZ, DOS SANTOS, HUGHES, MILLAN, CHAIREZ, and AGUILAR traveled throughout the United States and around the world to places in Latin America, Asia, and Eastern Europe, where they hosted lavish expos and small community presentations aimed at convincing Victims to purchase AirBit Club memberships.  In furtherance of the AirBit Club Scheme, the Victims were fraudulently induced to buy memberships in cash, including in the Southern District of New York.  Following a Victim’s investment, a Promoter provided the Victim with access to an online AirBit Club portal to view the purported returns on memberships (the “Online Portal”).  While Victims saw “profits” accumulate on their Online Portal, those representations were false; no Bitcoin mining or trading on behalf of Victims in fact took place.  Instead, RODRIGUEZ, DOS SANTOS, MILLAN, and AGUILAR enriched themselves and spent Victim money on cars, jewelry, and luxury homes, and financed more extravagant expos to recruit more Victims. 

HUGHES, an attorney licensed to practice law in California, had previously represented RODRIGUEZ and DOS SANTOS in a Securities and Exchange Commission investigation related to another investment scheme known as Vizinova.  He then aided RODRIGUEZ and DOS SANTOS in perpetrating the AirBit Club Scheme by, among other things, helping to remove negative information about AirBit Club and Vizinova from the internet. 

In many instances, as early as 2016, Victims who attempted to withdraw money from the AirBit Club Online Portal and complained to a Promoter were met with excuses, delays, and hidden fees amounting to more than 50% of the Victim’s requested withdrawal, if they were able to make any withdrawal at all.  In one instance, AGUILAR told one Victim of the AirBit Club Scheme who was complaining about her inability to withdraw AirBit Club returns that she should “bring new blood” into the AirBit Club Scheme in order to receive her returns.

In April 2020, another victim received a notice on the AirBit Club Online Portal that his account was closed – and principal investment lost – due to “execution of financial sustainability Reserve, policy #34 of the Airbit Club Terms and Conditions, due to the economic and financial crisis caused by (Covid-19).”

RODRIGUEZ, DOS SANTOS, HUGHES, CHAIREZ, and MILLAN sought to conceal the AirBit Club Scheme, as well as their respective control of the proceeds of that Scheme, by requesting that Victims purchase memberships in cash, using third-party cryptocurrency brokers, and by laundering the Scheme’s proceeds through several domestic and foreign bank accounts, including an attorney trust account managed by HUGHES (the “Hughes Trust Account”).  The Hughes Trust Account was ostensibly intended to maintain custody of HUGHES’s law practice’s client funds.  Instead, the Hughes Trust Account was used by RODRIGUEZ, DOS SANTOS, HUGHES, CHAIREZ, and MILLAN to conceal the nature and origin of the AirBit Club Scheme’s illicit proceeds.  Through that account, HUGHES directed Victim funds to the personal expenses of RODRIGUEZ, DOS SANTOS, CHAIREZ, MILLAN, and himself, and funded promotional events and sponsorships designed to further promote the AirBit Club Scheme. 

RODRIGUEZ, 40, of Irvine, California, DOS SANTOS, 48, of Panama City, Panama, MILLAN, 41, of Greensboro, North Carolina, CHAIREZ, 47, of Modesto, California, AGUILAR, 58, of Plano, Texas, and HUGHES, 47, of Newport Beach, California, have pled guilty to charges including wire fraud conspiracy, which carries a maximum potential sentence of 20 years in prison; money laundering conspiracy, which carries a maximum potential sentence of 20 years in prison; and bank fraud conspiracy, which carries a maximum potential sentence of 30 years in prison.  

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

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of Special Agents from Homeland Security Investigations’ (“HSI”) El Dorado Task Force, HSI Panama, the HSI Panama City Transnational Criminal Investigative Unit, and HSI New Orleans.  Mr. Williams further thanked the attorneys and investigators at the Securities and Exchange Commission whose expertise and diligence were integral to the development of this investigation.

If you believe you are a victim of the AirBit Club fraud, updated information regarding the case and victims’ rights as well as contact information for the victim witness coordinator is available here.