Wednesday, November 30, 2022

Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress Combating COVID-19 - NOVEMBER 30, 2022

 Clinical specimen testing for Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) at Wadsworth Laboratory

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

18 Statewide Deaths Reported on November 29


 Governor Kathy Hochul today updated New Yorkers on the state's progress combatting COVID-19 and plan to protect against the spread of viral respiratory infections that become more common in the fall and winter seasons.  

"As November comes to a close, New Yorkers should remain vigilant and continue to use all available tools to keep themselves, their loved ones and their communities safe and healthy," Governor Hochul said. "Be sure to stay up to date on vaccine doses, and test before gatherings or travel. If you test positive, talk to your doctor about potential treatment options."

Governor Hochul is also urging New Yorkers to take common prevention measures — like staying up to date on vaccines and practicing proper hygiene — to protect from Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), flu and COVID-19 and reduce the patient burden on local hospitals. Influenza is spreading quickly, with the number of laboratory-confirmed cases statewide and hospitalizations having spiked recently.

Governor Hochul previously launched a public awareness campaign featuring New York State Health Commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett speaking directly to New Yorkers about three viruses — RSV, flu and COVID-19 — now circulating in the state with similar symptoms and the potential to cause serious illness. Produced by the New York State Department of Health, the videos include a short clip and a longer version geared toward parents; and a version aimed specifically at health care providers.

Governor Hochul continues to remind New Yorkers that children ages 5 and older may now receive the bivalent booster shots that are recommended to increase protection against COVID-19.

The Governor also urges New Yorkers to get their bivalent COVID-19 vaccine boosters. 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 encourages New Yorkers to get their annual flu vaccine as flu season is widespread across New York State. The flu virus and the virus that causes COVID-19 are both circulating, so getting vaccinated against both is the best way to stay healthy and to avoid added stress to the health care system.

The State Department of Health is continuing its annual public education campaign, reminding adults and parents to get both flu and COVID-19 shots for themselves and children 6 months and older. Advertisements in both English and Spanish language began running last month.

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 - 36.38
  • 7-Day Average Cases Per 100k - 20.86
  • Test Results Reported - 81,461
  • Total Positive - 7,110
  • Percent Positive 7.86%**     
  • 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 7.37%**      
  • Patient Hospitalization - 3,293 (+110)
  • Patients Newly Admitted - 596
  • Patients in ICU - 288 (-17)
  • Patients in ICU with Intubation - 115 (-5)
  • Total Discharges - 367,228 (+447)
  • New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 18
  • Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 59,465

** 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 - 75,856

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  

Sunday,  

Nov. 

27, 2022 

Monday,  

Nov. 

28, 2022 

Tuesday,  

Nov. 

29, 2022 

Bronx 

7.60% 

7.70% 

7.75% 

Kings 

7.52% 

7.61% 

7.91% 

New York 

7.34% 

7.50% 

7.57% 

Queens 

8.64% 

8.70% 

9.05% 

Richmond 

6.81% 

7.17% 

7.24% 


Former Physician Sentenced For Second Health Care Fraud Conviction

 

Spyros Panos, Previously Convicted in 2013, Was Sentenced to 111 Months in Prison for Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft

 Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that SPYROS PANOS was sentenced to 111 months in prison for health care fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft. PANOS pled guilty to the charges on October 30, 2020.  United States District Judge Kenneth M. Karas imposed the sentence today in White Plains federal court.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Spyros Panos, a former surgeon who surrendered his license to practice medicine after a prior conviction for health care fraud in this District, abused our healthcare system for his own personal profit again, and he is now facing a return to prison.  The sentence he received appropriately reflects the seriousness of his crime and of recidivism in the eyes of the law.”

According to the Indictment, to which PANOS pled guilty, and other statements and submissions made in Court:

PANOS surrendered his New York State license to practice medicine in 2013 in anticipation of pleading guilty to an indictment charging him with health care fraud.  Thereafter, while out on release in that case, and after surrendering his license, he began perpetrating a scheme to defraud six medical peer review companies by impersonating a licensed orthopedic surgeon practicing in Westchester County (“Doctor-1”).  Among other things, PANOS submitted Doctor-1’s credentials to peer review companies and conducted peer reviews using Doctor-1’s name and credentials.  He stopped engaging in the scheme while he served his prison sentence.  After he was released, he resumed perpetrating the scheme.  During the course of the scheme, PANOS defrauded the peer review companies of $876,389.97. 

According to court documents, in advance of his November 2, 2020, trial, PANOS submitted proposed defense exhibits that included fraudulent emails and records.  While on release pending sentencing, PANOS submitted false and fraudulent documents in support of requests for adjournments of sentencing based on false claims that he tested positive for COVID-19 and then suffered from COVID related pneumonia.  In July 2022, after the Court revoked his bail conditions and ordered him remanded, PANOS was arrested and placed in custody.  

In addition to the prison term, PANOS, 54, of Hopewell Junction, New York, was sentenced to three years of supervised release.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Office of the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the New York Inspector General. 

Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson - World AIDS Day

 

Dear Neighbor,



Please join us tomorrow, December 1st at 10:00 am, at Fordham Plaza for a World AIDS Day press conference and day of action. Also called, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, AIDS is a life-threatening condition caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that attacks the immune system of the patient. We will be standing in solidarity with those that have been affected by HIV and AIDS as we continue to fight for equitable care and against stigmas. Free HIV screenings will also be available at this event. 

 

DATE: Thursday, December 1, 2022

 

TIME: 10:00AM-12:00PM

 

LOCATION: Fordham Plaza (Between Webster and 3rd Avenues)



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