Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress Combating COVID-19 - DECEMBER 1, 2022

 

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

26 Statewide Deaths Reported Yesterday

 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.  

"I remind all New Yorkers to 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 - 38.97
• 7-Day Average Cases Per 100k - 22.50
• Test Results Reported - 92,560
• Total Positive - 7,615
• Percent Positive - 7.46%**     
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 7.53%**      
• Patient Hospitalization - 3,311 (+18)
• Patients Newly Admitted - 554
• Patients in ICU - 289 (+1)
• Patients in ICU with Intubation - 115 (0)
• Total Discharges - 367,721 (+493)
• New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 26
• Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 59,491

** 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	Monday,   Nov.   28, 2022	Tuesday,   Nov.  29, 2022	Wed.,   Nov.  30, 2022
Bronx	7.70%	7.75%	8.12%
Kings	7.61%	7.91%	7.91%
New York	7.50%	7.57%	7.62%
Queens	8.70%	9.05%	9.11%
Richmond	7.17%	7.24%	7.12%

Two British Citizens Arrested For Conspiracy To Defraud Investors In Fraudulent Co-Working Space Business

James Robinson and David Kennedy, Principals of United Property Group, Arrested in Spain For Fraudulently Soliciting Millions of Dollars From Investors in Bar Works Inc. and Related Entities 

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced the unsealing of an Indictment charging JAMES ROBINSON and DAVID KENNEDY, both citizens of the United Kingdom, with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud for engaging in a scheme to defraud victims by making material misrepresentations about the management and operations of a company called Bar Works Inc. and related entities (“Bar Works”).  On November 30, 2022, ROBINSON and KENNEDY were arrested in Spain, and the United States Government will be seeking their extradition to the United States. 

According to the Indictment unsealed today in Manhattan federal court and other court documents related to the prosecution of co-conspirators Renwick Haddow and James Moore:[1]

ROBINSON, KENNEDY, and co-conspirators Renwick Haddow and James Moore are citizens of the United Kingdom (the “UK”).  At all times relevant to the Indictment, United Property Group and related entities (collectively, “UPG”) was a company based in Spain that was controlled in part by ROBINSON and KENNEDY.  UPG sold real estate and other investing opportunities to potential investors.  Bar Works was a private co-working space company controlled by Haddow, which operated locations in New York City and elsewhere between in or about 2015 through 2017 and accepted millions of dollars in investments from investors recruited through UPG, among others.  Prior to launching Bar Works, Haddow had been disqualified as a director of any UK company for eight years and was later sued by the Financial Conduct Authority, a British regulator, for operating investment schemes through misrepresentations that lost investors substantially all of their money.  These sanctions and the lawsuit were publicized online.  

In exchange for millions of dollars in commissions, ROBINSON, KENNEDY, and Moore partnered with Haddow in soliciting investments into workspace leases in Bar Works through material misrepresentations concerning, among other things, the identity of Bar Works’ management and the operations of Bar Works.  Specifically, as ROBINSON and KENNEDY knew, notwithstanding Haddow’s control over Bar Works, Haddow caused the Bar Works offering materials to omit his name entirely, list a fictitious individual named “Jonathan Black” as the Chief Executive Officer of Bar Works, and claim that “Black” had an extensive background in finance and past success with start-up companies.

Through UPG, ROBINSON and KENNEDY recruited agents to sell workspace leases in Bar Works and provided them with fraudulent offering documents and other information.  An account controlled in whole or in part by JAMES ROBINSON and DAVID KENNEDY received over $2 million in commissions from Bar Works in exchange for soliciting victims to invest at least approximately $7.5 million in this scheme.  Separately, Moore received another approximately $1.6 million from Bar Works.  Overall, prior to its collapse in or about June 2017, Bar Works obtained over $57 million from over 800 investors worldwide.

ROBINSON, 46, and KENNEDY, 47, both of the UK, are each charged with one count of wire fraud and one count of wire fraud conspiracy.  Each charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

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

Renwick Haddow, 54, pled guilty pursuant to a cooperation agreement on May 23, 2019, to one count each of wire fraud and wire fraud conspiracy relating to the Bar Works scheme and one count each of wire fraud and wire fraud conspiracy relating to a separate Bitcoin-related investment scheme.  Haddow’s sentencing is currently scheduled for April 28, 2023, before United States District Judge Laura Taylor Swain.

James Moore, 62, was found guilty on June 7, 2019, of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud following a week-long jury trial before United States District Judge Richard M. Berman.  On February 1, 2022, Moore was sentenced to 140 months in prison by Judge Berman.

Savraj Gata-Aura, 36, pled guilty on November 18, 2019, to one count of wire fraud conspiracy for his participation in the scheme and was sentenced to 48 months in prison on July 27, 2020, by United States District Judge Jed. S. Rakoff.

Mr. Williams praised the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  He further thanked the Spanish National Police for their assistance.  Finally, Mr. Williams thanked the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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

[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment constitutes only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.