Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress Combating COVID-19 - MARCH 23, 2022

 

933 Hospitalizations - Under 1,000 for Six Consecutive Days

Highest Daily Test Results Reported Since March 2

7 COVID-19 Deaths Statewide Yesterday

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

“While we keep a watchful eye on hospitalization and case trends, it is vitally important that every New Yorker continue using the tools we know are effective,” Governor Hochul said. “Get tested if you are experiencing symptoms and stay home to avoid spreading the virus. The vaccine and booster are the most effective way to prevent serious infection – get vaccinated if you haven’t yet, boosted if you have, and encourage your friends and loved ones to do the same.”

Today's data is summarized briefly below:  

• Test Results Reported – 160,670
• Total Positive –  3,875
• Percent Positive – 2.41%
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 1.94%
• Patient Hospitalization - 933 (-17)
• Patients Newly Admitted – 137
• Patients in ICU – 161 (-1)
• Patients in ICU with Intubation - 70 (-1)
• Total Discharges – 289,674 (+147)
• New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 7
• Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS –  55,064    

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.

• Total deaths reported to and compiled by the CDC – 70,077

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 - 37,348,142
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 24 hours – 14,867
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 7 days – 92,757
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose - 91.9%  
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series - 83.4%  
• 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) – 86.0%  
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 12-17 with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 82.3%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 12-17 with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 72.4%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose - 81.4%  
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series - 73.7%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 89.4%  
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series (CDC) – 76.0%   

Each New York City borough's 7-day average percentage of positive test results reported over the last three days is as follows: 

BOROUGH	Sunday, March 20, 2022	Monday, March 21, 2022	Tuesday, March 22, 2022
Bronx	0.84%	0.66%	0.70%
Kings	1.40%	1.16%	1.30%
New York	2.11%	1.87%	2.04%
Queens	1.20%	1.04%	1.13%
Richmond	1.19%	1.07%	1.16%

Ten “OED” Gang Members Charged With Narcotics Conspiracy

 

Six Members Also Charged With Firearms Possession

 Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Timothy Foley, the Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New York Division (“DEA”), Kevin P. Bruen, the Superintendent of the New York State Police (“NYSP”), and Keechant L. Sewell, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced the unsealing of a criminal complaint today charging gang members JERRIN PENA, a/k/a “Rooga,” a/k/a “Perry,” ARIEL OLIVER, a/k/a “8Ball,” a/k/a “Ocho,” JUSTIN DEAZA, a/k/a “Booka,” WILSON MENDEZ, a/k/a “Tati,” JOWENKY NUNEZ, a/k/a “Juju,” BRIAN HERNANDEZ, a/k/a “Malikai,” VICTOR COLON, a/k/a “V,” JOSE GUTIERREZ, a/k/a “G,” ARGENIS TAVAREZ, a/k/a “Nose,” and NIJMAH MARTE, a/k/a “N,” with participating in a conspiracy to traffic narcotics.  Six of the defendants also were charged with using guns in furtherance of that conspiracy.

PENA, MENDEZ, COLON, GUTIERREZ, and MARTE were arrested yesterday in New York, New York and the Bronx, New York and will be presented today before the Hon. Barbara Moses, United States Magistrate Judge for the Southern District of New York.  OLIVER, DEAZA, and HERNANDEZ were already in state custody.  NUNEZ and TAVAREZ remain at large.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said:  “As alleged, these defendants were members of a gang that distributed many types of illegal narcotics in a Manhattan neighborhood for years.  Several of the defendants frequently carried firearms while dealing drugs.  Today’s arrests are part of our continued commitment, along with our law enforcement partners, to target narcotics trafficking and firearms use in New York City.” 

DEA Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Timothy Foley said:  “The Own Every Dollar gang used social media to glamorize their drug enterprise, conduct drug transactions and brandish weapons instilling fear in the community.  Our drug trafficking investigations have a way of uncovering links to the threat of gun violence and gang-related criminal activity.  Today’s arrests exemplify law enforcement’s commitment to law and order and people’s right to live without fear.”

NYSP Superintendent Kevin P. Bruen said:  “We have no tolerance for those who bring drugs and the threat of violence to our communities. These arrests are the result of an aggressive strategy to stop the trafficking of narcotics and other deadly drugs on our streets. Together, with our law enforcement partners at all levels, we will continue to work vigilantly to put dangerous individuals like these gang members behind bars.” 

NYPD Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell said:  “The details of this investigation make clear: Criminal gangs, illegal guns, and illicit drugs are a dangerous combination – and will never be tolerated in our city, and any person who deals in the criminal behavior alleged in this case will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New York Division, the New York State Police, and everyone else who worked to take these 10 defendants off our streets, and made New York City safer for all the people we serve.”

As alleged in the Complaint unsealed today[1]:

PENA, OLIVER, DEAZA, MENDEZ, NUNEZ, HERNANDEZ, COLON, GUTIERREZ, TAVAREZ, and MARTE, are members of a criminal gang called “Own Every Dollar” or “OED,” which uses the following logo:

Between in or about 2019 and in or about 2022, the defendants sold fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, crack cocaine, oxycodone, and marijuana in and around the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan.  The defendants sold drugs to, among others, undercover police officers, and were frequently arrested in possession of drugs packaged for resale.

In addition, PENA, MENDEZ, NUNEZ, HERNANDEZ, COLON, and MARTE each possessed firearms in connection with their drug dealing, and PENA, OLIVER, and NUNEZ regularly posted social media photographs and videos of themselves holding firearms.

On February 24, 2022, DEAZA was arrested in possession of one kilogram of fentanyl.

JERRIN PENA, 20, ARIEL OLIVER, 22, JUSTIN DEAZA, 20, WILSON MENDEZ, 19, JOWENKY NUNEZ, 19, BRIAN HERNANDEZ, 22, VICTOR COLON, 24, JOSE GUTIERREZ, 20, ARGENIS TAVAREZ, 22, and NIJMAH MARTE, 21, all from New York City, are each charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams and more of fentanyl, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 846, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison.  The defendants are also charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin, cocaine, crack cocaine, oxycodone, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 846, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years, and conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute marijuana, also in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 846, which carries a maximum sentence of five years.

PENA, MENDEZ, NUNEZ, HERNANDEZ, COLON, and MARTE are also each charged with possessing a firearm in furtherance of the narcotics conspiracy, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(i), which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison, with a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison, which must run consecutively to any other sentence.

The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants would be determined by the judge.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the DEA, NYSP, and NYPD.  He also thanked the Special Narcotics Prosecutor for the City of New York, the Bronx District Attorney’s Office, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, the Massachusetts State Police, and the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office for their assistance in the case.  

The charges in the Complaint are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

[1] The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Join Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez this weekend in NYC

 

Big news, 

We’re hosting two rallies this weekend with Alexandria and a few of our allies in the state senate and assembly! 

After the rallies, we’ll hit the pavement in groups to knock on doors and collect signatures to secure Alexandria’s spot on the ballot this November. We’ve set a goal of collecting 5,000 signatures and we’re still 2,000 short.

Don’t miss this opportunity to see and hear from Alexandria, meet voters, and get to know your state representatives. 

Here are the details:

Upcoming events:

Rally with AOC and friends in Jackson Heights Sunday, March 27 11am - 1pm 34th Ave Open Street in front of Travers Park Get more info or RSVP Rally with AOC and friends in Parkchester Sunday, March 27 2pm - 5pm Virginia Park, right next to the Parkchester 6 train stop Get more info or RSVP

WILLIAMS' STATEMENT ON THE MAYOR'S MATERNAL HEALTH INITIATIVE EXPANDING ACCESS TO DOULA AND MIDWIFERY SERVICES

 

"Maternal healthcare inequities, particularly for Black and Brown women, have been a key focus for my office, and a personal issue for so many New Yorkers – until recently, I never realized how significant it would be to me and my family. Maternal mental health, maternal mortality, birth equity – these are issues that have been too long ignored, raised by voices too long silenced.

"Birth equity is a social justice issue, and today’s announcement will help bring care to communities often underserved, and lower the economic barriers that have prevented some pregnant people from seeking critical care. This initiative will also strengthen the ties between hospitals and community based organizations, meeting people where they are. 

"I thank the administration for making this issue a priority – together with my maternal health legislative package and other, previously announced initiatives, these programs will help to change the unjust systems that have long denied women of more color in our city the care they need and deserve."

Permits Filed For 3073 Villa Avenue In Bedford Park, The Bronx

 

Permits have been filed for a six-story residential building at 3073 Villa Avenue in Bedford Park, The Bronx. Located between East 204th Street and Bedford Park Boulevard, the lot is one block from the Bedford Park Boulevard subway station, serviced by the B and D trains. Arben Mitaj of Euro Tech Developers is listed as the owner behind the applications.

The proposed 60-foot-tall development will yield 9,062 square feet designated for residential space. The building will have 21 residences, most likely rentals based on the average unit scope of 431 square feet. The steel-based structure will also have a 30-foot-long rear yard.

Rise Architecture is listed as the architect of record.

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

MAYOR ADAMS TAKES ACTION TO REDUCE MATERNAL AND INFANT HEALTH INEQUITIES BY EXPANDING ACCESS TO DOULAS AND MIDWIVES

 

Doula and Midwifery Initiatives Part of City’s Comprehensive Plan to Address Disparities in Maternal Deaths, Life-Threatening Complications From Childbirth, and Infant Mortality

 

Citywide Expansion of Doula Program Will Offer Doulas to 500 Families in Next Three Month

  New York City Mayor Eric Adams today took steps to reduce maternal and infant health inequities in New York City and provide critical resources to new families — announcing the citywide expansion of the doula program, the expansion of a Midwifery Initiative, and the expansion of a maternal health care services program. The Citywide Doula Initiative will provide free access to doulas for birthing families and focus on 33 neighborhoods with the greatest social needs. The Midwifery Initiative will be expanded to all 38 public and private birthing facilities citywide and will allow the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), for the first time, to gather data on births and care with midwives; create partnerships with midwife organizations, private practices, and community members; and develop a report on midwives in New York City. Finally, the Maternity Hospital Quality Improvement Network (MHQIN) will be expanded across all 38 birthing facilities across the city in an effort to improve maternal care at local hospitals and birthing centers. 

 

“The root causes of racial disparities in maternal health are real, so it’s time we do right by every mother and every baby, no matter the color of their skin or the language they speak,” said Mayor Adams. “Today, we are announcing a multifaceted initiative to help reduce the inequities that have allowed children and mothers to die at the exact time when we should be welcoming a life. By expanding and investing in both doulas and midwives, we are taking the steps necessary to begin to address the disparities in maternal deaths, life-threatening complications from childbirth, and infant mortality.”

 

“Thank you to Mayor Adams for continuing to make maternal health a priority and to our practitioners in the field and partners at DOHMH,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom. “Our colleagues at DOHMH work hand-in-hand with our doula and midwife partners to offer thoughtful care for every expectant person and family, providing support every step along away. These expanded initiatives will strengthen supports for expectant people, advance expertise at DOHMH, and take tangible steps towards tackling health disparities.”

 

“Systemic racism should not be a New Yorker’s first experience upon coming into the world,” said DOHMH Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan. “The voices of midwives and doulas must be included in the work we are doing to lower the glaring inequities in complications from childbirth. I thank Mayor Adams for taking action to improve birth equity in New York City.”

 

All three initiatives are part of Mayor Adams’ mission to reduce health inequities in New York City, particularly amongst marginalized Black and Latino/a families and pregnant people. They build on DOHMH’s existing “By My Side Support Program” and are a key part of the “New Family Home Visits Program”— a new, comprehensive $30 million package of home-visiting services for first-time families.

 

Maternal and infant health inequities are rooted in generations of structural racism and disinvestment. In New York City, Black women are nine times more likely to die of a pregnancy-related cause than white women, and their rate of infant mortality is more than three times higher. For Puerto Ricans, the infant mortality rate is twice that of white New Yorkers.

 

Citywide Doula Initiative

The Citywide Doula Initiative will aim to train 50 doulas and reach 500 families by the end of June. Families who enroll in the program will receive doula support both at home and in the clinical setting, with three prenatal home visits, support during labor and delivery, and four postpartum visits. Clients who give birth at home will receive the same number of visits. The program will include screening and referrals for family needs and stressors, such as food insecurity. The model of care will be consistent across the city, and uniform data will be collected for a rigorous evaluation of the doula services provided through this initiative.

 

Doulas provide physical and emotional support during pregnancy and childbirth, which helps lower the risk of complications during childbirth for the parent and the infant. Studies show that doulas can reduce preterm births and low birthweights, which are the leading causes of infant mortality. Rates of cesarean birth and medical pain management also improve with doula support.

 

The Citywide Doula Initiative will focus services in three main categories:

 

• Providing equitable care — Doulas will be provided to eligible residents of the 33 neighborhoods identified by the Taskforce on Racial Inclusion and Equity (TRIE). Priority will be given to people who are income-eligible for Medicaid and/or are giving birth for the first time (or the first time in over 10 years), as well as those who have had a previous traumatic birth experience, have no other labor support, live in a shelter, are in foster care, or have a high-risk medical condition.
• Expanding the doula workforce — To increase capacity, DOHMH is aiming to train 50 community members as doulas by June 30 and provide additional opportunities for professional development. DOHMH will also help uncertified doulas become certified; about 70 uncertified doulas are expected to take advantage of this opportunity.
• Creating partnerships with hospitals — The initiative will strengthen DOHMH’s work with hospitals though the MHQIN, which creates doula-friendly hospital policies and practices and increases provider referrals to doula services. Staff will also collaborate with community-based, governmental, and health care partners to advocate for system-level change.

 

The initiative will integrate community-based doula organizations that serve clients in TRIE neighborhoods around the city — bringing additional funding to expand their services, build the capacity of their doula workforces, and partner with hospitals. Seven vendors have been chosen to partner in this work:

• Community Health Center of Richmond will provide services in Staten Island,
• Hope and Healing Family Center will provide services in central and eastern Brooklyn,
• The Mothership will provide services in Harlem and northern Manhattan,
• Northern Manhattan Perinatal Partnership will provide services in Harlem, northern Manhattan, and the southwest Bronx, and
• Ancient Song Doula Services, Caribbean Women’s Health Association, and the Mama Glow Foundation will provide services in the rest of the city.

Midwifery Initiative

The Midwifery Initiative builds on research about existing midwifery care models across pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period. Midwives are clinicians who receive formal education, training, and licensure to provide a full range of highly personalized maternal and primary health care to meet their clients’ unique physical, mental, emotional, and cultural needs. Studies have shown that midwives help lower rates of cesarean births and unnecessary interventions during childbirth, and pregnant people cared for by midwives are less likely to report disrespectful care. 

 

The Midwifery Initiative includes:

• Convening a steering committee of stakeholders and key informants to recommend ways to better understand the quantitative and qualitative data about pregnancy care and birth outcomes in both hospital and home-based settings.
• Partnering with midwives conducting research at New York University to develop an assessment tool to measure successful integration of midwifery care models into maternal health care settings.
• Identifying models for enhancing and expanding midwifery training opportunities, including cross-training between midwives and medical doctors.

 

Maternity Hospital Quality Improvement Network

The MHQIN is a clinical and community initiative that seeks to reduce disparities in preventable maternal morbidity and mortality. Key strategies focus on the drivers of racial and ethnic disparities in maternal outcomes. The expansion of the program will invite 23 new birthing hospitals and centers, reaching all 38 birthing facilities in New York City.

 

The MHQIN includes:

 

• Increased surveillance of severe maternal morbidity data to improve health outcomes.
• Trainings for staff in racial equity, implicit bias, and trauma-informed care.
• Partnerships with community-based organizations and doula services.