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

 

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

53 Statewide Deaths Reported from August 20 to August 22

 NOTE: Beginning June 24, 2022, the Vaccine data will be updated weekly on Fridays to align with CDC's updated data refresh schedule. For additional information on COVID-19 Vaccination Data provided by CDC, see https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#vaccinations_vacc-total-admin-rate-total.

Important Note: HERDS data collection from health care facilities was paused due to the weekend from 8/20/2022-8/21/2022. Data from those days were submitted in Monday's report. Where noted, totals include three days of cumulative data from 8/20/2022-8/22/2022. As a result, some data may appear higher than recent trends. Data affected is marked with an asterisk. 

NOTE: Updates to the CDC's cumulative death data files are being delayed, as the CDC upgrades its system. Any questions about this should be directed to the CDC. During this time, total deaths and new daily deaths reported through HERDS will continue as normal. 

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

"As we continue to monitor the numbers, I encourage all New Yorkers to keep using the tools we know that work to protect against COVID-19," Governor Hochul said. "Get vaccinated or boosted when you're eligible and if you haven't already. Test if you have symptoms, and if you do test positive, talk to your doctor about potential treatment. By remaining vigilant and responsible, New Yorkers will beat this virus."  

Earlier this week, Governor Hochul announced updated COVID-19 guidance and frequently asked questions for schools and childcare facilities that aligns with the new CDC recommendations. Among other things, this guidance specifies that asymptomatic children exposed to COVID-19 no longer need to quarantine and that isolation is now only advised for individuals that have tested positive for the virus. Read the updated guidance and frequently asked questions here. 

Today's data is summarized briefly below:   

• Cases Per 100k - 18.91
• 7-Day Average Cases Per 100k - 22.98
• Test Results Reported - 57,274
• Total Positive - 3,695
• Percent Positive - 5.67%**  
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 6.37%**
• Patient Hospitalization - 2,459 (+94)*
• Patients Newly Admitted - 908
• Patients in ICU - 260 (+29)
• Patients in ICU with Intubation - 99 (+10)
• Total Discharges - 334,310 (+743)*
• New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 53*
• Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 57,515*

** 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 - 73,517

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	Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022	Sunday, Aug. 21, 2022	Mon., Aug. 22, 2022
Bronx	7.14%	7.23%	7.31%
Kings	3.05%	3.42%	3.66%
New York	5.74%	5.68%	5.59%
Queens	7.66%	7.78%	7.79%
Richmond	6.86%	7.08%	7.01%

Three Members Of Miami Crew Charged With Defrauding Banks And Cryptocurrency Exchange Of More Than $4 Million

 

 Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Ricky J. Patel, the Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”) in New York, announced today that ESTEBAN CABRERA DA CORTE, a/k/a “Esteban Cabrera,” a/k/a “Esteban Da Corte,” a/k/a “Steban,” LUIS HERNANDEZ GONZALEZ, a/k/a “Luis Hernandez,” a/k/a “Luisito,” and ASDRUBAL RAMIREZ MEZA (collectively, the “Defendants”) were arrested this morning for participating in a scheme to steal millions of dollars’ worth of cryptocurrency and trick U.S. banks into refunding them for the millions used to purchase that cryptocurrency, in part by using personal identifying information stolen from other people.  CABRERA, HERNANDEZ, and RAMIREZ will be presented in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said:  “As alleged, Esteban Cabrera Da Corte, Luis Hernandez Gonzalez, and Asdrubal Ramirez Meza used stolen identities to buy cryptocurrency and then doubled down by disputing the transactions, deceiving U.S. banks into believing that they themselves were the victims of someone else’s fraud.  Thanks to the efforts of HSI’s El Dorado Task Force, their duplicity has been uncovered and they now face serious federal charges.”

HSI Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Ricky J. Patel said:  “Cabrera, Hernandez, and Ramirez coordinated this large-scale operation to launder millions of dollars through cryptocurrency exchanges and U.S. banks, ultimately exploiting both the virtual currency market and the U.S. financial system.  Today’s arrests demonstrate how HSI, along with the U.S. Secret Service and our partners at the Southern District of New York, will continue to work together to leverage the transparency of cryptocurrency transactions to follow the trail of illicit funds and pierce the veil of anonymity.” 

As alleged in the Indictment[1] unsealed today, from at least in or about 2020 through at least in or about March 2020, CABRERA, HERNANDEZ, and RAMIREZ engaged in a scheme to deceive U.S. banks and a leading cryptocurrency exchange platform (the “Cryptocurrency Exchange”) by purchasing more than $4 million in cryptocurrency and then falsely claiming that the cryptocurrency purchase transactions were unauthorized, deceiving the U.S. banks and the Cryptocurrency Exchange into reversing those transactions and redepositing the money into the bank accounts that the Defendants controlled.  The Defendants then withdrew the money from the bank accounts.

To effect this scheme, the Defendants opened accounts with the Cryptocurrency Exchange, frequently using photos of fake U.S. passports, fake drivers’ licenses, and stolen personal identifying information.  The Cryptocurrency Exchange accounts were linked to bank accounts that the Defendants controlled.  The Defendants used money that had been deposited into the linked bank accounts, frequently through a series of cash deposits made using ATMs, to purchase cryptocurrency.  That cryptocurrency was then quickly transferred to other cryptocurrency wallets outside of the Cryptocurrency Exchange that were controlled by the Defendants and their co-conspirators.  After the cryptocurrency was transferred, the Defendants made telephone calls to the U.S. banks during which they falsely represented that the cryptocurrency purchases were unauthorized, leading the banks to reverse the transactions. 

The operation of this scheme by the Defendants resulted in U.S. banks processing more than $4 million in fraudulent reversals and the Cryptocurrency Exchange losing more than $3.5 million worth of cryptocurrency. 

CABRERA, 26, HERNANDEZ, 23, and RAMIREZ, 34, all of Miami, Florida, are charged with (1) conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison; (2) wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and (3) aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 2 years in prison, to run consecutive to any other sentence imposed.  CABRERA is also charged with engaging in a monetary transaction in property derived from wire fraud and bank fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

The maximum potential sentences in these cases are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by a judge.

Mr. Williams praised the Homeland Security Investigation’s El Dorado Task Force for its outstanding work on the investigation. 

The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

[1] The text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.

Partnerships for Parks - Webinars for Park Equity and Spanish Speakers, Charlie Parker Festival, and More

 

OPPORTUNITIES TO ADVANCE PARK EQUITY IN YOUR COMMUNITY Partnerships for Parks and NYC Parks will discuss how our City promotes park equity across the five boroughs through several initiatives and will share opportunities for community members to get involved. Join us to learn about: NYC Parks’ transformative equity initiatives Opportunities to get involved at the local level Best practices for starting and sustaining a ‘Friends of’ group from community group leaders Guest speakers include: Jesslyn Moser – Planning, NYC Parks Registration for this session is required and will close the day before the event. You will receive information on how to join the webinar once you register. Questions? Reach out to academy@cityparksfoundation.org. Wednesday, September 14 from 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

REGISTER NOW CONTRIBUYA A SU PARQUE Our "Get Involved with Your Park" workshop in Spanish ¿Te gustarίa contribuir con tu parque local? Partnerships for Parks está ofreciendo cursos, este curso virtual de entrenamiento será en español traducido en ingles. Alguna vez se ha preguntado ¿cómo puede contribuir a mantener un parque cerca de tu comunidad? Este curso virtual servirá como una introducción a las maneras en que usted puede apoyar a su parque local y a NYC Parks. En este curso virtual se impartirá temas referentes a cómo ser un voluntario para asistir a los parques y áreas verdes urbanas, información de crear grupos para colaborar en equipo en su comunidad. A través de un subsidio Partnership for Parks ofrece un máximo de $3,000 por grupo que le interese cooperar con el mantenimiento/embellecimiento de los parques y áreas verdes urbanas. Recomendamos llenar la registración para el entrenamiento lo más pronto posible. La registración terminará el día antes del entrenamiento (27 de septiembre).  Miércoles 28 de septiembre de 6:00 pm a 7:00 pm REGÍSTRATE AHORA THE CHARLIE PARKER JAZZ FESTIVAL RETURNS Join Capital One City Parks Foundation SummerStage this week for the 30th anniversary celebration of the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival, featuring vibrant - and free - jazz performances and events across NYC. This yearly celebration of Charlie Parker’s legacy returns this year to both Marcus Garvey Park and Tompkins Square Park - where Parker worked and lived - with FREE jazz programs that represent jazz’s past, present and future. The festival will also feature partnered jazz events around the city, including film screenings, listening parties, acoustic performances, and more! Friday, August 26 through Sunday, August 28 MORE INFO PLAY FAIR WEBINAR WITH PARKS COMMISSIONER DONOGHUE New Yorkers for Parks is hosting an exclusive Play Fair webinar featuring NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue. Commissioner Donoghue and senior NYC Parks staff will discuss their vision for parks as critical infrastructure and the FY23 NYC Parks budget. New York League of Conservative Voters president Julie Tighe will also discuss the New York State $4.2b Clean Water Clean Air Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act. Wednesday, August 31 at 4:00pm  REGISTER NOW

State Labor Department Releases Preliminary July 2022 Area Unemployment Rates

 

  The New York State Department of Labor today released preliminary local area unemployment rates for July 2022. Rates are calculated using methods prescribed by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The State’s area unemployment rates rely in part on the results of the Current Population Survey, which contacts approximately 3,100 households in New York State each month. To recap last week’s statewide press release, New York State’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate held at 4.4% from June to July 2022.

Local Area Unemployment Rates*(%)
July 2021 and July 2022
(Not seasonally adjusted)

The data in the preceding table are not seasonally adjusted, which means they reflect seasonal influences (e.g., holiday and summer hires). Therefore, the most valid comparisons with this type of data are year-to-year comparisons of the same month, for example, July 2021 versus July 2022. Labor force data for the current month are preliminary and subject to revision as more information becomes available the following month. Revised estimates for prior months are available at: https://dol.ny.gov/local-area-unemployment-statistics Labor force statistics, including the unemployment rate, for New York and every other state are based on statistical regression models specified by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. These are the most up-to-date estimates of persons employed and unemployed by place of residence. Estimates are available for New York State, labor market regions, metropolitan areas, counties and municipalities with population of at least 25,000.

Unemployment Rates By County,
New York State,
July 2022

Jobs and Unemployment Fact Sheet This fact sheet conveys important technical information that will contribute to a better understanding of labor force data (“household survey”), including resident employment/unemployment rates, and jobs by industry data (“business survey”), which are presented in the New York State Department of Labor’s monthly press release. State Unemployment Rates Based on Regression Model Beginning with data for January 1996, unemployment rates for New York State and all other states (as well as New York City and the City of Los Angeles) have been estimated using time-series regression statistical models developed by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Advantage of Regression Model Use of a time-series regression model reduces the month-to-month variation in unemployment rates and resident employment by reducing variation caused by sampling errors and other components of statistical noise (irregularities). Benchmarking of Estimates Once each year, labor force estimates, such as civilian labor force and the unemployment rate, are revised to reflect updated input data including new Census Bureau populations controls, newly revised establishment jobs data and new state-level annual average data from the Current Population Survey (CPS). As part of this procedure, all state figures are reviewed, revised as necessary and then re-estimated. This process is commonly referred to as “benchmarking.” Changes in Methodology Labor force estimates are now produced with an improved time-series regression model, which utilizes “real-time” benchmarking. “Real-time” benchmarking reduces end-of-year revisions, which also means that major economic events will be reflected in a more timely manner in state labor force estimates. In addition, the new methodology includes an updated way of estimating for sub-state areas (e.g. counties, metro areas) the number of unemployed who are new entrants or re-entrants into the labor force. This change in methodology will result in lower unemployment rates in some areas and increased rates in others. Unemployed and UI Beneficiaries The estimate of the number of unemployed includes all persons who had no employment during the reference week (the week including the 12th of the month), were available for work, except for temporary illness, and had made specific efforts to find employment sometime during the 4-week period ending with the reference week. Unemployment insurance (UI) beneficiaries include those who apply for and qualify for UI benefits. Consequently, the estimate of the number of unemployed and the number of UI beneficiaries do not necessarily move in tandem. Jobs Data Jobs data are obtained from a separate joint federal-state survey of business establishments. The survey, called the Current Employment Statistics of Establishments, has a sample size of 18,000 establishments in New York State. It excludes self-employed workers, agricultural workers, unpaid family workers and domestic workers employed by private households. This data represents a count of jobs by place of work. Data for each month is revised the following month as more complete information becomes available. The New York State Department of Labor is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.