Governor Cuomo Details COVID-19 Micro-Cluster Metrics

 

Queens Red and Orange Zones Move to "Yellow" Based on Progress Made Over Past 14 Days 

Rockland, Orange and Broome County Zones will Remain the Same Until They Meet Metrics to Reduce Restrictions 

New Focus Area Zones for Steuben and Chemung Counties 

Full Details on Metrics Available Here 

Statewide Positivity Rate is 1.62 Percent    

Positive Testing Rate in Hot Spot Areas is 6.61 Percent; New York State Positivity Without Red Zone Focus Areas Included is 1.42 Percent    

7 COVID-19 Deaths in New York State Yesterday    

 Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today detailed New York State's COVID-19 micro-cluster strategy metrics. After 14 days of data monitoring, the Governor outlined modifications to some current focus zones, established new ones in areas where there are recent upticks in cases, and set criteria for areas to exit a focus zone. New York's micro-cluster strategy detects small outbreaks and takes action to eliminate them. 

"Cluster zone" focus areas are designated based on geographic case prevalence and restrictions are implemented accordingly based on the severity of spread. Buffer zones with fewer restrictions are implemented in the areas outside the most impacted areas to help prevent further spread. After 14 days, data will be reviewed to determine whether a focus area has successfully reduced viral spread to the level where restrictions can be eased.    

Changes to cluster zones and new cluster zones take effect tomorrow for impacted businesses and houses of worship, and Monday for impacted schools.  

"We have what we believe is the most sophisticated COVID detection and elimination system of any state because we've spent time, we've invested and because New Yorkers are invested. What's the best you can do? Detect the smallest outbreak as soon as it happens," Governor Cuomo said. "Trace it back to where it starts, find a small outbreak or cluster, and jump on it. Quick action to contain it and eliminate it. That is the best you can do in this situation. You see an ember land in dry grass, ring the alarm, everybody run, stamp out the ember. The embers are what we call micro-clusters, and we can identify them from the testing data, from the hospitalization data, and mapping software."   

Identifying and Implementing Focus Zone  

Daily data monitoring enables the State to identify areas that are experiencing a concerning increase in COVID spread. Once an area meets certain metrics - detailed below - that demonstrate substantial COVID spread, it may be designated a focus zone: a Red "Micro-Cluster Zone" (with accompanying Orange and/or Yellow buffer zones) or an Orange Warning Zone (with potential for accompanying Yellow Buffer Zone) or solely a Yellow Precautionary Zone.  In densely populated urban areas, two buffer zones - an Orange Buffer Zone and a Yellow Buffer  Zone may be required.

• Red Zone — Micro-Cluster: A "Red Zone" focus area is put in place to contain spread from a specific, defined geographic area. 
• Orange Zone — Warning/Buffer: An Orange Zone area either is put in place primarily in densely populated urban areas as a tight buffer zone around a Red Zone micro-cluster ("Orange Buffer Zone") area OR is implemented independently as a focus area based on the below metrics ("Orange Warning Zone"). The purpose of an Orange Buffer Zone is to 1) restrict activity to prevent further spread from Red Zone area; 2) provide a defined geographic area where metrics can be monitored daily to ensure COVID is not spreading beyond the Red Zone. 
• Yellow Zone — Precautionary/Buffer: A "Yellow Zone" area either is put in place as a broader buffer area to ensure COVID outbreak is not spreading into the broader community ("Yellow Buffer Zone") OR is implemented independently based on the below metrics ("Yellow Precautionary Zone"). The purpose of a Yellow Buffer Zone is to 1) restrict some activity to help prevent further spread from Red and/or Orange Warning Zone area; 2) provide a larger defined geographic area where metrics can be monitored daily to ensure COVID is not spreading beyond the Red Zone or Orange Warning Zone. 

Metrics to Exit a Focus Zone  

After 14 days from being placed in a focus zone, the State DOH, in coordination with the local health department, and in consultation with global health experts, will determine whether data sufficiently demonstrate that the area has successfully reduced viral spread to a level able to be contained given testing, contact tracing and other health system metrics. Based on the below metrics and expert advisement, the State DOH will decide whether the Focus Zone will be extended, modified (redrawn geographic boundaries based on case prevalence and positivity data), or ended. For Orange and Yellow Zones that are put in place solely as "buffer zones" to monitor case spread beyond a designated focus zone, these will be evaluated based on positivity data, cases per capita, and daily hospital admissions over the entire 14 day period to ensure there are no signs of broader spread from the focus area that prompted the zone creation. If after 14 days there has been no notable increase in positivity, new cases, or new hospital admissions from the buffer zone, the buffer zone will - based on other epidemiological factors - become eligible to qualify for a new zone designation, or ending a zone designation, if appropriate.  

Modifications to Current Cluster Zones and New Cluster Zones 

Brooklyn - Click Here for Map 

Over the past 10 days:    

• Red "Micro-Cluster" Zone: 7.4% - 5.5% (does not meet criteria to exit red zone)  
• Orange Buffer Zone: 2.6% - 2.7% (meets criteria - based on no notable case increase for a buffer zone - for designation as Yellow Buffer Zone)  
• Yellow Buffer Zone: 1.5% - 1.7% (does not meet metric to exit; remains Yellow Buffer Zone)
  
  
    

Queens - Kew Gardens/Forest Hills - Click Here for Map 

This map has been updated to include Ozone Park neighborhood that qualifies for a Yellow Zone designation.

Over the past 10 days:    

• Red "Micro-Cluster" Zone: 4.7% - 2.5% (meets criteria for Red Zone exit - below 3% - and meets the metric for Yellow Zone entrance - above 2.5%)  
• Orange Buffer Zone: 1.9% - 1.6% (meets criteria - based on no notable case increase for a buffer zone - for designation as Yellow Buffer Zone)  
• Yellow Buffer Zone: 1.9% - 2.1% (does not meet metric to exit; remains Yellow Buffer Zone)  

Queens - Far Rockaway - Click Here for Map   

Over the past 10 days:   

• Red "Micro Cluster" Zone: 3.7% - 1.8% (meets criteria for Red Zone exit - below 3% - and does not meet requirement to exit all zones (1.5%) - designated as Yellow Zone)  
• Orange Buffer Zone: 4.0% - 1.7% (meets criteria - based on no notable case increase for a buffer zone - for designation as Yellow Buffer Zone)  
• Yellow Buffer Zone: 4.4% - 3.5% (does not meet metric to exit; remains Yellow Buffer Zone)  

Rockland County - Click Here for Map 

Over the past 10 days:   

• Red "Micro Cluster" Zone: 11.6% - 4.8% (does not meet criteria to exit red zone)  
• Yellow Buffer Zone: 9.1% - 6.0% (does not meet metric to exit; remains Yellow Buffer Zone)  

Orange County - Click Here for Map 

Over the past 10 days:    

• Red "Micro Cluster" Zone: 12.8% - 4.2% (does not meet criteria to exit red zone)  
• Yellow Buffer Zone: 19.0% - 1.6% (does not meet metric to exit; remains Yellow Buffer Zone)  

Broome County - Click Here for Map   

Over the past 10 days:    

• Yellow Precautionary Zone: 4.8% - 4.6% (does not meet criteria to exit yellow precautionary zone)  

Steuben County - New Zone - Click Here for Map (note: a portion of the Steuben zone extends into Chemung County)   

• New Zone: Meets criteria for new Yellow Precautionary Zone  

Chemung County - New Zone - Click Here for Map   

• New Zone: Meets criteria for new Orange Warning Zone (Yellow Buffer Zone implemented as well)  

Today's data is summarized briefly below:    

• Patient Hospitalization - 950 (+8)   
• Patients Newly Admitted - 152    
• Hospital Counties - 45   
• Number ICU - 201 (+7)   
• Number ICU with Intubation - 103 (+4)   
• Total Discharges - 78,645 (+115)   
• Deaths - 7   
• Total Deaths - 25,679   

CURTIS SLIWA AND BRONX REPUBLICAN CHAIRMAN MICHAEL RENDINO TO LEAD PROTEST AT AOC'S NON-OFFICE OFFICE

 

CONGRESSWOMAN OCASIO-CORTEZ'S "DISTRICT" OFFICE IS NOT IN THE DISTRICT

October 22nd at 5:30pm, at 1973 Westchester Avenue in the Bronx, the Founder and CEO of the Guardian Angels Curtis Sliwa, along with Bronx Republican Chairman Michael Rendino and former NYPD officer and AOC opponent John Cummings will lead a protest outside of Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's "district" office which is neither in the district, nor open.

As crime in New York City continues to spiral out of control and shootings continue unabated, AOC's Defund the Police movement is wildly unpopular in the district - the NYPD polls at above 60% in recent surveys - and Curtis Sliwa will talk about how New York City is returning to the bad old days of when he was forced to found the Guardian Angels.

WHAT: Protest @ AOC's Non-District Office

WHEN: Thursday, October 22nd at 5:30 Pm

WHERE: 1973 Westchester Ave, Bronx, NY (map)

 

Celebrating 50 Years

Grants Edition

Grants

Grant Writing for Schools October 29th @ 4pm Virtual workshop Fall is the time to apply for grants and secure funds! Join GrowNYC to learn best practices for writing grants to support your school garden or outdoor learning space. RSVP Here

Grants available for school gardens and outdoor learning: KidsGardening Budding Botanist Deadline: October 30, 2020 Quadratec Energize the Environment Grant Deadline: October 30, 2020 Annie's Grants for Gardens Deadline: November 2, 2020 School Wellness Council Grant Deadline: November 2, 2020 SeedMoney Challenge Deadline: November 12, 2020 DOE Sustainability Project Grant Deadline: November 17, 2020 Info session on October 27th, 2020 Carton 2 Garden Contest Deadline: December 1, 2020 The Samull Classroom Herb Garden Grant Deadline: December 1, 2020 Whole Kids Bee Grant Deadline December 15, 2020 Youth Garden Grant Deadline: December 18, 2020 BOKS Physical Activity Grant Deadline: Rolling until December 31, 2020 Robert F. Schumann Foundation Deadline: February 28, 2021 Herman's Garden Seed Donation Program Deadline: Rolling Ioby Crowdfund Matching Deadline: Rolling Healthy Neighborhoods, Partnerships for Parks AFT Brighter Futures Micrgrant for Farmers Deadline: Rolling

More Events

Fun Floral Designs with Fall Leaves (Virtual) October 28, 2020 @ 2pm RSVP

Outdoor Learning Workshop (Virtual) November 12, 2020 @ 4:30pm RSVP

Food, Waste and Climate Series (Virtual) November 13, 2020 December 4, 2020 RSVP

All Upcoming Events

Support GrowNYC Education

Environmental and climate education is critical to prepare the next generation of environmental stewards. Please help GrowNYC continue this important work!

Team AOC The Situation, the Problem, the Plan

 

The Situation: With just 13 days until the final ballots are cast in this election, our team is finalizing our get-out-the-vote operation and digital advertising. We’ve had some of these plans in place for months.

The Problem: Our corporate-backed opponent raised a surprising and completely unprecedented $5.5 million last quarter. That level of funding is more than over a dozen swing district Republicans and can fuel a level of ads that New York’s 14th has never seen before in the final weeks of an election.

The Plan: We still have a huge advantage in this election. Team AOC has spent months working alongside the community providing COVID relief, boosting the census count, and supporting local activist organizations. You can’t buy that. So all we need to do is defend against these negative ads with a few of our own negative ads.

Thanks for all of your help,

Team AOC

Claremont Village - Back to School Giveaway and More Nov. 14th 2 - 6 PM

 

CITY RELEASES INITIAL COVID-19 VACCINE FRAMEWORK, ENSURING EQUITY AND ACCESS FOR COMMUNITIES HARDEST HIT BY THE PANDEMIC

 

As the City moves forward with its vision for an equitable, health-focused economic recovery, the de Blasio Administration today announced an initial COVID-19 vaccine framework. The City will work with the State to guarantee maximum distribution of a safe, effective, and free vaccine, with an emphasis on communities hardest hit by the pandemic.  Over the next two months, the City will engage public health stakeholders and community groups across the city’s hospitals, clinics, FQHCs, independent pharmacies, urgent cares, and independent providers to ensure broad and equitable access to a vaccine citywide.

 

“In the absence of federal leadership, New York City is stepping up to ensure and safe and effective vaccine for all New Yorkers,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “With public health at the forefront, we are moving full steam ahead to rebuild our city, guaranteeing a healthier and more equitable future for all New Yorkers.”

 

Phase one of distribution—to be available as early as November—will provide a limited number of doses primarily reserved for healthcare personnel, frontline workers, and other vulnerable groups. To prepare for this initial rollout, the City is actively enrolling providers in the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s Citywide Immunization Registry, focusing first on hospitals and then on FQHCs. Over 2,500 providers are currently reporting to the Registry. Through webinars and meetings, DOHMH will continue to educate providers about vaccine availability, likely priority groups, proper storage, and how to order, receive, administer, allocate, and report on the vaccine.

 

Phase two of distribution, which could occur as early as 2021, will see more widespread availability for the general public. To meet this increased availability, the City will ensure that there is adequate storage and capacity. The City will continue to recruit and prepare community providers, including FQHCs, pharmacies, urgent care, hospitals, NYC Health + Hospitals, DOHMH COVID-19 testing sites, and community vaccinators. Vaccine uptake will be closely and consistently tracked through the Citywide Immunization Registry, with results reported out to the public on a periodic basis. The City will also monitor for serious, adverse effects and educate providers on how to report on them. Additionally, the City will conduct its own vaccine effectiveness studies and continually follow up with a sample of New Yorkers who receive a vaccine.

 

 “New York City has decades of experience mounting successful vaccination campaigns—from smallpox to influenza,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Dave A. Chokshi. “As a City we will also partner with communities to address possible fear or skepticism toward a vaccine. Trust is an essential ingredient for turning a vaccine into a vaccination.”