Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress Combating COVID-19 - MAY 10, 2022

 

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

21 Statewide Deaths Reported Yesterday

 "We have come a long way in the past two years, so let's continue to use the tools we know help protect against, treat and prevent serious illness from COVID-19," Governor Hochul said. "I know first-hand how tests can help stop the spread to our vulnerable loved ones, so let's keep using this critical tool. I also encourage every New Yorker to make sure you are fully vaccinated and up to date on your booster doses. And if you test positive, talk to your doctor about available treatments. This is how we will continue to move forward through the pandemic safely." 

Today's data is summarized briefly below:   

• Cases Per 100k - 33.65
• 7-Day Average Cases Per 100k - 47.96
• Test Results Reported - 91,949
• Total Positive - 6,575
• Percent Positive - 6.32%**  
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 7.03%**
• Patient Hospitalization - 2,369 (+134)
• Patients Newly Admitted - 367
• Patients in ICU - 217 (+22)
• Patients in ICU with Intubation - 91 (+2)
• Total Discharges - 299,529 (+209)
• New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 21
• Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 55,647     

** 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 - 71,056       

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 - 38,537,747
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 24 hours - 16,336
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 7 days - 147,870
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose - 92.5%  
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series - 83.8%  
• 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) - 87.0%  
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 12-17 with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 83.2%  
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 12-17 with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 73.2%  
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose - 82.0%  
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series - 74.2%  
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 90.3%  
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 77.0%  

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 7,  2022	Sunday, May 8,  2022	Monday, May 9,  2022
Bronx	3.51%	3.58%	3.62%
Kings	4.21%	4.12%	3.66%
New York	6.66%	6.73%	6.62%
Queens	5.05%	5.11%	5.08%
Richmond	4.97%	5.19%	5.28%

MAYOR ADAMS AND ROBIN HOOD ANNOUNCE $100 MILLION COMMITMENT FOR CHILDCARE QUALITY AND INNOVATION INITIATIVE

 

$50 Million Will Be Funded by Philanthropy, $50 Million Will Come from Federal and State Block Grants Over Next Four Years

 New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced new funding for a forthcoming Childcare Quality and Innovation Initiative for New York City. The funding, announced at Robin Hood’s annual benefit to support poverty-fighting efforts in New York City last night, includes $50 million from Robin Hood and $50 million in additional funding through the city over the coming four years, as a result of state and federal block grant funding. The Childcare Quality and Innovation Initiative will be part of the Adams administration’s broader childcare plan, which will be released in the coming weeks. 

 

"Investing in childcare is a down payment on progress and the future of our kids. We need to get New Yorkers back to work and lower the cost of childcare — both of which will uplift families and remove the obstacles that are holding too many parents back,” said Mayor Adams. “We’re excited to partner with Robin Hood on this $100 million Childcare Quality and Innovation Initiative to not only position New York as a leader in the sector, but to take major steps towards a new, more equitable city for all.”

 

“The partnership between Robin Hood and City Hall to build the Childcare Quality and Innovation Initiative fundamentally transforms childcare for working families across New York City,” said Deputy Mayor for Strategic Initiatives Sheena Wright. “For too long, families —  largely women and women of color — encountered a host of hurdles to get access to quality childcare. With this $100 million commitment, we are one step closer to building a childcare system that finally works for New Yorkers.”

 

“As we recover from the pandemic, poverty remains persistent and pervasive in New York City, but we know investing in high-quality, affordable childcare will uplift families in all five boroughs. Access to high-quality and affordable childcare sets a child up for success to excel developmentally and academically and gets parents back to work — it’s good for the economy and good for fighting poverty,” said Robin Hood CEO Richard R. Buery, Jr. “That’s why we brought together our generous supporters and Mayor Adams at Robin Hood’s 2022 Annual Benefit and are committed to investing $100 million into reimagining New York City’s childcare sector and giving every family the opportunity to break the cycle of poverty.”

 

The Childcare Quality and Innovation Initiative will seek to make high-quality, affordable childcare more accessible, while improving the quality of care provided to New York children. This new funding can be used to develop innovative solutions to the sector, such as expanding access in childcare deserts — neighborhoods without enough licensed childcare providers, provide options beyond traditional working hours to accommodate parents with atypical schedules,  and workforce development programs that help drive quality across New York City, including encouraging models that compensate providers more fairly, reduce turnover, and create opportunities for growth within the sector.

 

Research has shown that the most impactful poverty-fighting investment we can make starts in infancy, providing returns to society that far outweigh the costs. Currently, though, more than half (52 percent) of New York City families with children under age four cannot afford childcare, and since the start of the pandemic, one in four parents have had to turn down a job, change jobs, or take leave due to childcare needs. Currently, there is only one available childcare slot for every five infants in New York City. Investing in New York City’s childcare system will help reduce poverty, improve family economic stability, ensure healthy child development, and increase the ability of parents and caregivers — especially women — to work and earn more.

 

Today’s announcement of the Childcare Quality and Innovation Initiative builds upon the Adams administration’s call for public-private partnership in New York City and marks an unprecedented opportunity to collaborate on catalyzing improvements in childcare that will have lasting impacts for generations.

Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson - The Start of Bronx Week!

 

Dear Neighbors, Bronx Week 2022 is off to a great start! We have had the honor of celebrating our community sponsors, older adults, small businesses, veterans, and so many others that have helped to make this Bronx Week memorable. We are also grateful to all of you for your continued support in making this borough-wide celebration a success once again. Although we have much to celebrate in the Bronx, last Monday reminded us that there is still much work to be done to support our residents and families. Last Monday, we learned about the Supreme Court`s draft majority opinion that would overturn Roe v. Wade, the landmark decision by the U.S. Supreme Court that protects a woman`s right to an abortion in our country. In New York City, the rights of pregnant women and birthing individuals will ALWAYS be protected. Our reproductive rights are not up for debate and neither are our bodies. At Bronx Borough Hall, we will always fight for reproductive justice and will continue to do so alongside our advocates and elected officials. We will have more information soon on how you can join us in supporting pregnant women in the Bronx, New York City, New York State and across our country. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact our office at 718-590-3500 or email us at webmail@bronxbp.nyc.gov.   In partnership, Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson

Bronx Week in Full Swing!

Before launching #BronxWeek, we wanted to thank all of our incredible sponsors for their labor of love and contributions to making Bronx Week 2022 a success!

Thank you to all of our sponsors who made this year`s Bronx Week possible:

Humana

Altice

Bronx Community College

BronxCare

Con Edison

Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield

HOSTOS Community College

Lincoln Hospital

Montefiore Einstein

PepsiCo

United Health Care

Visiting Nurse Service of New York

Waste Management

We partnered with the Bronx Community Foundation and Tech FIN (Technology For Families In Need) to address the digital divide in our community and distribute tablets. We understand the importance of having access to up-to-date technology, it gives us access to the world and people around us. We want to make sure that as we move forward with our technology, we are not leaving anyone behind. Thank you to the Bronx Community Foundation and Tech FIN (Technology For Families In Need) for collaborating with us on this endeavor.

Who better to jump-start our Bronx Week than our older adults! We had a wonderful time at Golden Corral during our Senior Event! We sang, we danced and we praised! We are all the product of those that came before us and it is only right that we celebrate them! Thank you Humana and Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield! And a big thank you to Golden Corral and their staff for hosting us!

We hosted our Small Business event with NYC Small Business Services and we honored and celebrated our immigrant small business owners in Little Yemen here in the Bronx. They are vital to our community and our city. We honored community trailblazers: Bronx Muslim Center Yemeni-American Merchants Association Alliance of Yemeni American Businesses Morris Park BID The New Bronx Chamber of Commerce Thank you for all that you do and for serving our community! & Thank you to Mayor Adams, SBS Commissioner Kevin D. Kim and Council Member Velasquez for their continued support and partnership!

Today, we had the honor of recognizing our incredible veterans at our Veteran’s Appreciation Breakfast! So much of who we are and so much of what have in this country we owe to those who have put their lives on the line for our civil liberties. In honor of their sacrifice and their service, we honored: Detective Roberto Oviedo (U.S. Marine Corps) Rene Cabrera Gonzalez (U.S. Marine Corps) Abigail Taylor (U.S. Army) Lauren Patterson (U.S. Army) David Carman (U.S. Navy) To all of of our veterans, you have our eternal gratitude for all that you have done to keep us safe.

NEXT UP

Our office is partnering with researchers at Columbia University to help local officials and community-based organizations understand the unique challenges facing New Yorkers and what they can do to help. Communities Speak, started at Columbia University, is collecting information on the experiences of individuals, families, and small-businesses across the city through surveys and sharing that information with city government and community-based organizations. This is an exciting opportunity for you to make a difference in our city.

MAYOR ERIC ADAMS, CHANCELLOR BANKS ANNOUNCE LIFTING OF COVID-19 VACCINE REQUIREMENT FOR PROMS

 

Vaccine Requirement for Attending Graduation Previously Lifted

New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Education (DOE) Chancellor David C. Banks, in consultation with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), today announced the lifting of the COVID-19 vaccination requirement for New York City public school proms. Students were previously told they could attend graduation this year regardless of vaccination status. 

Vaccination continues to be the best tool to fight COVID-19 and to keep schools safe. But through a combination of New York City’s gold standard health and safety efforts, fully vaccinated staff, and the continued care and resilience of school communities, students have been able to remain in the classrooms, learning and receiving the supports they need. The city strongly recommends students wear a high-quality mask at prom and graduation.

“I am thrilled that, starting this year, every one of our young people will have the chance to celebrate all of their hard work with a prom and graduation, regardless of vaccination status,” said Mayor Adams. “Vaccinations got us to where we are today, so I want to thank the millions of New Yorkers who went out and got vaccinated, doing their part to keep our city safe. I encourage anyone who hasn’t yet gotten vaccinated to do so, and to all of our students, congratulations!”

“The health and safety of our students and staff is, and has been, my top priority,” said Chancellor Banks. “Graduation and prom are such momentous occasions in the lives of our young people, which is why I am so excited that thanks to the hard work of our school communities, we have come to a point where we can safely take this next step.”

“We’re happy that young people will be able to celebrate this joyous, and one-time, milestone,” said New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan. “Vaccinations remain a lifesaving tool. Masks worn indoors continue to reduce risk of transmission. But another critical resource for health is togetherness and celebration — for which these events are so critical in the lives of young people.”

Today’s announcement is due to the success of the Stay Safe and Stay Open plan implemented by Mayor Adams and the DOE. While the DOE will no longer have a vaccination policy in place for proms and graduations, students attending ceremonies or events held at private locations will still be subject to any vaccination requirements of that facility.

Guests attending graduation are still required to be vaccinated in order to attend in a school building..

The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene strongly recommend testing before any events, providing students with at-home tests, and masking with high-quality masks, especially for those who want to have an additional level of protection.

As a reminder, families with children who are eligible but not yet vaccinated against COVID-19 can make an appointment for vaccination at vaccinefinder.nyc.gov or call 311 to find a vaccine site. The vaccine is free for all New Yorkers, regardless of immigration or insurance status.