Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress Combating COVID-19 - OCTOBER 5, 2022

 

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

23 Statewide Deaths Reported Yesterday

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

"As the weather gets colder and brings us back indoors, I urge New Yorkers to remain vigilant, be sure to use the tools that are available to keep themselves, their loved ones, and their communities safe and healthy," Governor Hochul said. "Take advantage of the vaccine by staying up to date on doses. Test before gatherings or travel and if you test positive, talk to your doctor about potential treatment options."

Governor Hochul continues to urge New Yorkers to get their bivalent COVID-19 vaccine boosters from Pfizer-BioNTech for anyone age 12 or older and from Moderna for those 18 or older. 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 is encouraging New Yorkers to get their annual flu vaccine as flu season approaches. The flu vaccine is recommended for almost everyone 6 months and older. The flu virus and the virus that causes COVID-19 may simultaneously spread this fall and winter, so getting vaccinated against both is the best way to stay healthy and to avoid added stress to the health care system.

For information about flu vaccine clinics, contact the local health department or visit https://www.vaccines.gov/find-vaccines/

Today's data is summarized briefly below:

• Cases Per 100k - 22.78
• 7-Day Average Cases Per 100k - 21.15
• Test Results Reported - 58,923
• Total Positive - 4,451
• Percent Positive - 7.30%**
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 6.97%**
• Patient Hospitalization - 2,392 (+26)
• Patients Newly Admitted - 421
• Patients in ICU - 230 (-18)
• Patients in ICU with Intubation - 83 (-4)
• Total Discharges - 347,409 (+360)
• New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 23
• Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 58,215

** 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 - 74,363

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	Sunday,   October   2, 2022	Monday,   October   3, 2022	Tuesday,   October   4, 2022
Bronx	5.50%	5.62%	5.69%
Kings	3.92%	4.31%	4.55%
New York	5.49%	5.48%	5.45%
Queens	6.20%	6.20%	6.12%
Richmond	8.09%	8.24%	8.26%

Two Georgia Residents Plead Guilty To Firearms Trafficking

 

Xavier Simms and Bryce Martin Trafficked Firearms from Georgia to New York With a Third Co-Conspirator Who Shot and Critically Wounded an FBI Task Force Officer When Law Enforcement Attempted to Interdict

 Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that XAVIER SIMMS and BRYCE MARTIN pled guilty to trafficking firearms from Georgia to New York and conspiring to do the same.  SIMMS pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Philip M. Halpern, and MARTIN pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Vincent L. Briccetti.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said:  “Today, Xavier Simms and Bryce Martin admitted to trafficking guns from Georgia to New York.  Their actions contributed to the flow of illegal guns into New York, which too often results in gun violence in our communities.  Today’s pleas reflect the commitment of this Office and our law enforcement partners to rid our streets of illegal guns and to prosecute gun traffickers to the fullest extent of the law.”

According to the Complaint, Information against each defendant, and other documents filed in federal court, as well as statements made in public court proceedings:

On April 20, 2022, members of the FBI Westchester Safe Streets Task Force and the City of Yonkers Police Department were investigating illegal firearms activity in the vicinity of Elm and Linden streets in Yonkers, New York.  During the course of their investigation, they attempted to interdict members of the conspiracy, including XAVIER SIMMS, BRYCE MARTIN, and a third co-conspirator (“CC-1”).  When law enforcement officers approached SIMMS, MARTIN, and CC-1 at a Yonkers deli, CC-1 shot and critically wounded an FBI Task Force Officer at close range.  After that, an FBI Special Agent fired his gun at CC-1 and fatally wounded CC-1.

Law enforcement officers recovered four firearms in total from SIMMS, MARTIN, and CC-1 at the Yonkers deli, including a “Ghost Gun” — a type of firearm that is designed to evade law enforcement detection.

SIMMS and MARTIN had previously traveled together with CC-1 from Georgia to New York, arriving in Yonkers on or about April 19, 2022, with multiple firearms to sell.  Evidence recovered from their cellphones showed that SIMMS and MARTIN both had access to specialized firearms, including machinegun-style weapons.  Once in Yonkers, SIMMS, MARTIN, and CC-1 met with another individual (“Individual-1”) who received from them at least five firearms to sell on consignment.

SIMMS, 22, of Covington, Georgia, and MARTIN, 23, of Hampton, Georgia, each pled guilty to one count of conspiring to traffic firearms, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, and one count of firearms trafficking, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(a)(1)(A) and 924(a)(1), which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

SIMMS is scheduled to be sentenced on April 20, 2023.  MARTIN is scheduled to be sentenced on January 11, 2023.

The statutory maximum 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 the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the City of Yonkers Police Department.  He also thanked the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office for its assistance in the investigation.