Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress Combating COVID-19 - NOVEMBER 18, 2022

 

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

18 Statewide Deaths Reported Yesterday

 Governor Kathy Hochul today updated New Yorkers on the state's progress combating 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 holidays approaching, New Yorkers must prepare and do what they can to keep 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."

Earlier this month, 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 - 20.62
• 7-Day Average Cases Per 100k - 18.30
• Test Results Reported - 64,433
• Total Positive - 4,029
• Percent Positive - 5.83%
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 5.83%
• Patient Hospitalization - 2,629 (-57)
• Patients Newly Admitted - 409
• Patients in ICU - 261 (-13)
• Patients in ICU with Intubation - 97 (-10)
• Total Discharges - 363,328 (446)
• New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 18
• Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 59,203

** 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 - 75,522

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 - 40,404,057
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 24 hours - 4,214
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 7 days - 22, 435
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose - 93.5%
• 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) - 89.8%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 12-17 with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 86.3%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 12-17 with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 75.7%
• 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) - 93.5% 
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 79.9% 

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,  November   15, 2022	Wednesday,   November   16, 2022	Thursday,   November   17, 2022
Bronx	6.62%	6.83%	6.93%
Kings	6.18%	6.27%	6.12%
New York	5.88%	6.07%	6.10%
Queens	6.83%	6.88%	6.83%
Richmond	5.49%	5.43%	5.33%

BRONX MAN SENTENCED TO 16 YEARS IN PRISON FOR RUNNING FENTANYL AND HEROIN MILL OUT OF HIS HOME

 

Jury Found Defendant Guilty of Criminal Possession of Controlled Substance Charges

 Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today announced that a Bronx man has been sentenced to 16 years in prison after a jury found him guilty of narcotics charges for running a heroin and fentanyl mill out of his Riverdale home.

 District Attorney Clark says, “Fentanyl is killing Bronxites, and destroys the lives of its victims and their families. With this sentencing, there is one less person on our streets selling deadly drugs. My Office will continue our efforts to keep these narcotics off the streets by pursuing and prosecuting those who harm our community. I thank our partners at the NYPD and Drug Enforcement Administration for working with us in this investigation.”

 District Attorney Clark said the defendant, Ariel Jimenez, 37, of 4570 Henry Hudson Parkway, was sentenced today to 16 years in prison and five years of post-release supervision by Bronx Supreme Court Justice Lester Adler. A jury found the defendant guilty of three counts of first-degree Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance, second-degree Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance, and three counts of third-degree Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance, with intent to sell a narcotic, on November 16, 2021.

 On April 6, 2017, while authorities were conducting a separate investigation, NYPD and DEA Officers stopped a vehicle Jimenez was a passenger in outside of his home, after he appeared to be in a drug transaction with a known major trafficker. Authorities seized a kilogram (2.2 pounds) of fentanyl from under the driver seat after Jimenez attempted to stash it there. Execution of a search warrant of his home resulted in the seizure of nearly a kilogram (2.1 pounds) of heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, ketamine and Tramadol in one room, and over 2 kilograms (4.5 pounds) of heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine in a second room, some packaged in smaller quantities for sale. In addition to the narcotics, investigators found a kilogram press, a blender, heavy duty tape, strainers, breathing ventilators, nitrile gloves, cellophane wrap, vacuum sealer, scales, a drug ledger, measuring cups and bottles, indicating Jimenez operated a drug mill out of this residence.

 District Attorney Clark thanked NYPD Detective Thomas Decker of the Drug Enforcement Strike Force, Special Agent Thomas Mulhall of U.S. Homeland Security, Special Agent Michael Reed of the Drug Enforcement Agency and Clarkstown Police Department Detective William Gomez of the Drug Enforcement Task Force, as well as other members of Group Z 51 of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New York Drug Enforcement Strike Force, for their assistance in the investigation.