Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress Combating COVID-19

 

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

10 Statewide Deaths Reported Yesterday

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

"With the fall season now underway, I urge New Yorkers to remain vigilant and 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 Vaccines.gov/find-vaccines.  

Today's data is summarized briefly below:    

• Cases Per 100k - 27.52
• 7-Day Average Cases Per 100k - 24.11 
• Test Results Reported - 71,073
• Total Positive - 5,378   
• Percent Positive - 7.31%**    
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 6.61%**      
• Patient Hospitalization - 2,196 (-12) 
• Patients Newly Admitted - 391
• Patients in ICU - 223 (1)
• Patients in ICU with Intubation - 76 (-12) 
• Total Discharges - 343,748 (387) 
• New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 10   
• Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 58,007

** 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 - 74,125

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 - 40,196,940         
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 24 hours - 6,862
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 7 days - 32,438
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose - 93.3% 
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series - 84.7% 
• 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) - 88.6% 
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 12-17 with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 85.6% 
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 12-17 with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 75.1% 
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose - 83.4% 
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series - 75.4% 
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 92.3% 
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 78.8% 

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

Borough	Tuesday,   September   20, 2022	Wednesday,   September   21, 2022	Thursday,   September   22, 2022
Bronx	6.08%	6.40%	6.30%
Kings	3.60%	3.64%	3.68%
New York	5.11%	5.24%	5.23%
Queens	6.11%	6.22%	6.16%
Richmond	5.69%	5.69%	5.63%

PUBLIC ADVOCATE INSPECTS SHELTER WHERE AN ASYLUM SEEKER LOST HER LIFE, PUSHES FOR SHELTER REFORMS

 

After a woman seeking asylum from Colombia lost her life earlier this week in a Queens shelter, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams inspected the facility Friday and called for reforms to the overburdened system which would improve conditions and help open up capacity, while strongly affirming the moral and legal “right to shelter” in New York City.

"Earlier this week, a young woman who came to this country seeking aid became a casualty of cruelty and political schemes, who was then placed into an overburdened and under-resourced system,” said Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams. "While it’s clear that shelter staff are working with the resources they have to provide care, it’s also clear that the system citywide was not prepared for the level of need among New Yorkers even before the current arrivals of asylum seekers. The administration must provide the kind of transparency needed to ensure that New Yorkers in our shelters, including those who have just arrived seeking asylum and support, have what they need and deserve." He also further amplified the need for additional federal resources to support the city in addressing the drastic increase in need with the arrival of asylum seekers.

Following the inspection, the Public Advocate stressed the need to codify the rights of homeless individuals both in and outside of shelters by passing his Homeless Bill of Rights into law. The legislation, which was heard in the City Council earlier this month, would further codify and publicize the rights of individuals to access legal, translation and educational services, access shelters. It would also codifies the rights of people in shelters to:

Meet privately with advocates and legal representatives
Leave and return to the shelter outside of curfew hours and request early and late passes
Participate in recreational activities
Be placed in a room with a person who identifies as the same gender
Have a private room with a lock for families experiencing homelessness
Have secure locker for single adults experiencing homelessness
Have access to bathrooms
Have access to washing machines and dryers or to money for laundry
Have access to space and equipment to bathe and change babies and small children
Have access to meals and accommodations for dietary needs and restrictions

Public Advocate Williams also emphasized the need to open capacity in the shelter system by more expeditiously moving New Yorkers into deeply affordable housing, the true solution to the homelessness crisis. He reiterated the goals and strategies of his July report with the Committee to End Homelessness by 2026, which details the need for:

Privacy and dignity in shelters instead of congregate settings
On-site services for New Yorkers living in shelters
Expanded resources to help those in shelters quickly access permanent housing 
Dramatic reductions in the amount of time people spend in shelters before accessing permanent housing 
Substantial financial investment in keeping New Yorkers in their homes

Responding to the administration’s newly announced plan to temporarily house asylum seekers in large tents, or Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Centers, the Public Advocate again highlighted the need to uphold the right to shelter, to meet the standards set forth in the proposed Homeless Bill of Rights, and questioned whether these temporary structures could meet those requirements. He urged the administration to provide more details to government partners and to the public about this proposal before putting it into action.

VCJC News & Notes 9/23/22

 

Van Cortlandt Jewish Center
News and Notes

Here's this week's edition of the VCJC News and Notes email. We hope you enjoy it and find it useful! Reminders Shabbos Shabbos information is, as always, available on our website, both in the information sidebar and the events calendar. Here are the times you need:   Shabbos Candles Friday 9/23/22 @ 6:33 pm Shabbos morning services at 8:45 am.  Please join the services if you can do so safely.  Shabbos Ends Saturday 9/24/22 @ 7:36 pm   Rosh HaShanah Schedule Erev Rosh Hashanah Candles September 25 @ 6:30 pm Aft//Eve. Services - Erev Rosh Hashanah September 25 @ 6:35 pm Morning Services - Rosh Hashanah Day 1 September 26 @ 9:15 am Shofar Blowing (approximate time) September 26 @ 10:30 am Tashlich September 26 @ 4:15 pm Aft./Eve. Services - Rosh Hashanah Day 1 September 26 @ 6:35 pm Rosh Hashanah Day 1 Candles (after) September 26 @ 7:31 pm Morning Services - Rosh Hashanah Day 2 September 27 @ 9:15 am Shofar Blowing (approximate time) September 27 @ 10:30 am Aft./Eve. Services - Rosh Hashanah Day 2 September 27 @ 6:35 pm Yom Tov Ends September 27 @ 7:29 pm   Security for Rosh HaShanah VCJC will have outside security on site during morning services.  For afternoon and evening services, only the Sedgwick Ave entrance will be open.  The Stevenson Ave (rear) entrance will be closed.    IT'S NOT TOO LATE! High Holidays and Memberships Our annual membership year starts with Rosh HaShannah. Please renew your membership now.  Dues are $250 per person by check or in the office.  You can also buy/renew your membership online with a small processing fee.  Rosh HaShannah starts the evening of Sept. 25.  It's not too soon to buy your tickets for services!  Tickets are $125 per person by check or in the office.  You can also buy your tickets online with a small processing fee.  We expect all men who buy tickets to also be members and encourage all women to do the same.

MAYOR ADAMS SIGNS EXECUTIVE ORDER TO CUT GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS FROM CITY CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS

 

Action Will Improve Local Air Quality and Reduce Noise Pollution, Waste From Construction to Support Climate and Health Goals

New York City Mayor Eric Adams signed Clean Construction Executive Order 23, which requires the city’s capital project agencies to commit to actions that will lower embodied carbon — greenhouse gas emissions arising from the manufacturing, transportation, installation, maintenance, and disposal of building materials — from municipal construction projects. The actions taken by EO 23 will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution, and noise pollution citywide. They will also ensure that any construction funded by new federal infrastructure and climate bill funding will use sustainable materials, equipment, and practices.

 

“As extreme weather intensifies, it is clear that we are in the midst of a climate crisis in this city and across the world,” said Mayor Adams. “My administration is committed to delivering New Yorkers a future free of these chronic threats, and, with construction being responsible for nearly a quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions, it is imperative that we use every tool in our toolbox to lower embodied carbon. This executive order is a massive stride towards doing just that and giving all of us a more breathable, livable home.”

 

“The city is leading by example by reducing the use of the most carbon-intensive materials in our construction,” said Deputy Mayor of Operations Meera Joshi. “With a new approach to how the city builds, today’s executive order will reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and improve neighborhood air quality.”

 

“New York City has been at the forefront of environmental and sustainable construction practices, and our agencies have been piloting many different carbon reduction initiatives in support of our 80x50 goal,” said Chief Climate Officer and New York City Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala. “Expanding these clean construction initiatives citywide will help to further reduce our contributions to climate change.”

 

“We are thrilled that Mayor Adams has signed this executive order — a major step to reduce the air and noise pollution of construction in our city,” said Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice Executive Director Kizzy Charles-Guzman. “New York City needs to keep growing, but we must also continue to lead by example to address the climate crisis. That’s why we are committing to reduce the carbon impact of city construction projects and drive the market towards cleaner construction machinery. This executive order will reduce the environmental impact of our $16 billion average annual city capital project spending and provide much-needed impact data on the city buildings completed each year.”

 

“DDC is one of the leading agencies for addressing climate change, and the construction industry itself is a significant source of emissions that we can help manage,” said New York City Department of Design and Construction (DDC) Commissioner Thomas Foley. “We’re reviewing our specifications to reduce the embedded carbon in the concrete that we use, and we’re going to require our suppliers to disclose the environmental effects of their steel and concrete manufacturing processes so we can work with them on ways to adjust it downward. We’re also going to review emissions from engines and other motorized equipment at our sites and determine where we can electrify. Climate change is a major challenge., and modifying construction techniques and materials is another important component of the city’s comprehensive effort to address it.”

 

“Mayor Adams is setting an example for other cities to follow on how to confront climate change,” said New York City Department of Buildings Commissioner Eric Ulrich. “By raising our standards on building practices for city projects, every new capital development will contribute to a more resilient and sustainable New York City.”

 

“This executive order is a significant step forward as we work to ensure that New York City buildings and infrastructure are high-performing from the ground up,” said New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services Commissioner Dawn Pinnock. “We are striving towards a transformative climate goal of reducing emissions from city government operations 40 percent by 2025 and 50 percent by 2030. We all have a critical role to play in preserving our environment, and improving the impacts of construction activity can be the cornerstone of building a greener New York."

 

“We are excited to already be doing our part in support of this ambitious initiative by this administration to decrease the greenhouse gas footprint of our capital construction projects,” said New York City Department of Parks and Recreation Commissioner Sue Donoghue. “This initiative aligns with our energy management and conservation, and in our sustainability efforts — from contractors reducing their carbon emissions through sustainable vehicles and equipment use to our slag specs — we are always looking for ways to innovate in this space.”

 

“New York City government has taken a lead-by-example approach to the climate crisis,” said DCAS Deputy Commissioner for Energy Management and Chief Decarbonization Officer Anthony Fiore. “We are reducing emissions from government operations further and faster than the private sector to pave the way to deep, economy-wide carbon reductions. And fortunately, what happens in New York City does not stay in New York City. As a global leader on climate, our work has a multiplier effect as other municipalities around the world replicate the actions we take here. This executive order expands the city’s multiplier effect and leverages its purchasing power to drive deep decarbonization further and wider to ensure suppliers, contractors, manufacturers, and others that do business with the city reduce their own emissions.”

 

Construction is responsible for an estimated 23 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, with large portions of those emissions coming from carbon emissions from the manufacturing, transportation, installation, maintenance, and disposal of building materials, especially concrete, iron, and steel. Construction equipment that burns fossil fuels also emits pollutants, such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter, which endanger residents’ health and the surrounding environment.

 

EO 23 directs agencies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with the embodied carbon of building materials and construction equipment through:

 

• Low-carbon concrete specifications: Capital project agencies will set specifications for low-carbon concrete for concrete used in capital projects to directly reduce the environmental impact of construction.
• Environmental product declarations: Capital project agencies will submit environmental product declarations for structural steel and concrete, in order to quantify the environmental impact of these materials in city work.
• Low-emission vehicles and equipment: Capital project agencies will include specifications in capital project construction contracts for low-emission vehicles and equipment, with a preference for all-electric equipment to reduce air and noise pollution.
• Life cycle assessments: Capital project agencies shall complete a Life Cycle Assessment for applicable projects to quantify the environmental impact of the whole project and reduce the impact where possible.

 

New York City is committed to carbon neutrality by 2050 and reaching the goals set forth in the Paris Agreement, and the actions required by today’s EO will help protect the planet, fellow human beings, and future generations. New York City is also demonstrating climate leadership by promoting the market development and uptake of low-embodied carbon and clean construction strategies through the incorporation of these principles into publicly funded projects.

 

The Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice will also incorporate milestones into the city’s long-term strategic sustainability plan, to be released on Earth Day 2023.