Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress Combating COVID-19 - JANUARY 23, 2023

 

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

22 Statewide Deaths Reported on January 20

 Governor Kathy Hochul today updated New Yorkers on the state's progress combatting COVID-19 and outlined basic steps they can take to protect against the spread of viral respiratory infections that become more common in the winter season.

"I urge 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 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), the flu and COVID-19 and reduce the patient burden on local hospitals. The Governor reiterated these basic steps when she updated New Yorkers on the state's winter health preparedness efforts last month.

Recently, the New York State Department of Health announced that the XBB.1.5. variant is now the most dominant strain in New York, accounting for more than 50 percent of COVID-19 infections statewide. Emerging at a time when both COVID-19 and flu cases remain high, early data indicates that XBB.1.5. is more transmissible than other circulating variants, though there is not yet clear evidence of significant changes to virulence or severity of disease.

The New York State Department of Health's weekly flu surveillance report for the week ending January 14, shows influenza remaining widespread throughout the state for a fifteenth consecutive week, with a total of 300,907 positive cases across all 62 counties reported to date. The report found that confirmed cases statewide dropped 50 percent, while overall hospitalizations were down 52 percent from the previous week, with the week, at 798 hospitalizations across the state.

Additionally, there were 13 outbreaks in acute care and long-term care facilities, the report determined. There were two additional pediatric deaths, leaving the total at eight statewide.

With flu season continuing and infections remaining widespread, Governor Hochul encourages all New Yorkers to get their annual flu vaccine. 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 Health Department 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. For information about flu vaccine clinics, contact the local health department or visit vaccines.gov/find-vaccines/.

Governor Hochul also continues to urge New Yorkers to get their bivalent COVID-19 vaccine boosters. Recently, the New York State Department of Health announced new guidance for bivalent COVID-19 booster doses, which are now available for eligible children down to 6 months of age.

The updated boosters are the first to be targeted to the original virus strain and recently circulating variants and are recommended for young New Yorkers and all those eligible. 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.

Today's data is summarized briefly below:

• Cases Per 100k - 11.61
• 7-Day Average Cases Per 100k - 17.69
• Test Results Reported - 32,445
• Total Positive - 2,268
• Percent Positive - 6.23%**
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 6.43%**
• Patient Hospitalization - 3,173 (-87)*
• Patients Newly Admitted - 468*
• Patients in ICU - 337 (-17)*
• Patients in ICU with Intubation - 130 (-3)*
• Total Discharges - 391,949 (+514)*
• New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 22*
• Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 61,057*

** Due to the test reporting policy change by the federal Department of Health and Human Services 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 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 - 77,664

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	Friday,   January   20, 2023	Saturday,   January   21, 2023	Sunday,   January   22, 2023
Bronx	7.32%	7.12%	6.99%
Kings	5.15%	5.08%	4.97%
New York	5.98%	6.01%	5.89%
Queens	7.23%	7.08%	6.92%
Richmond	6.20%	5.98%	5.70%

MAYOR ADAMS ANNOUNCES NEW INITIATIVE TO COMMUNICATE DIRECTLY WITH NEW YORKERS

 

 

New Yorkers Can Sign up to Hear From Mayor Adams Online

New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced a new initiative to communicate directly with New Yorkers about updates from the administration and services the administration has unlocked for New Yorkers. Those who sign up will receive digital communications directly from Mayor Adams with information about new initiatives and policies, local events, and more.

 

“If we’re launching a new program that New Yorkers care about, that can put money in pockets or improve quality of life, I’m going to make sure New Yorkers hear about it directly,” said Mayor Adams. “We’ve accomplished so much in our first year — from expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit to making quality childcare affordable for all New Yorkers and more. But none of those accomplishments mean anything if New Yorkers don’t know about them and aren’t using them. That changes now.”

 

One of Mayor Adams’ key priorities for 2023 is ensuring that New Yorkers can access the services that the administration secured for them in 2022. A select list of some of the administration’s 2022 wins for New Yorkers is available online. Notably, Mayor Adams secured $4 billion in funding for child care and significantly increased benefits that single parents and married couples will receive from the Earned Income Tax Credit. The initiative announced today will send information about those initiatives and more directly in New Yorkers’ inboxes, making sure that all of the city’s eligible residents can take advantage of them.

“Today’s announcement is yet another example of Mayor Adams embracing the power of technology to make the city work better for New Yorkers,” said Jonathan Salomons, executive director, Mayor’s Office of Innovation and Emerging Markets. “We’ll use every tool at our disposal to get New Yorkers the information they need about the services they deserve.”

 

“This administration continues to redefine how city government interacts with New Yorkers,” said Chief Technology Officer Matthew Fraser. “The Office of Technology and Innovation is proud to support this new channel for Mayor Adams to share critical information, and to continue advancing better ways for New Yorkers to connect with government services and each other.”

 

As part of this initiative, the administration will facilitate a new series of email communications to New Yorkers, specific to their locations and interests.

 

Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Coop-City Town Hall Meeting

 

Saturday Afternoon Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez held her first Town Hall meeting in auditorium C of 177 Dreiser Loop in Coop-City near where her new Coop-City office is located in Room 3 of 177 Dreiser Loop. Hundreds of people were in attendance to see and hear their new congresswoman that redistricting had given them. Many in the audience were familiar with their new representative in congress, and most of them approved of the job she is doing.   

Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez's Town Hall meeting opened with a short welcoming by Assemblyman Michael Benedetto, and then the Congresswoman spoke about the SUV Crime Intervention unit at Jacobi Hospital where she was able to obtain $1.2 million dollars,  She continued saying that one million dollars was obtained for the overhaul of the Westchester Square area to make it safer for pedestrians, and while she was talking several people stood up in protest of the United States support of the war in the Ukraine. The protesters were escorted out of the auditorium.

As Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez continued she  spoke abut the Debt Ceiling, fighting cuts to programs such as Social Security and Medicare, new energy credits, and the removal of former President Trump's tax credits for the rich. When she got into the Question and Answer part of the Town Hall, she was interrupted  on the first question when a voice shouted out why she voted against the Infrastructure Bill in Congress, where she explained there was the promise of including much needed support for public housing such as NYCHA that was cut out from the bill.

To a question on the budget, the congresswoman answered that her opposition to the defense budget is because there i no accounting of how the money allocated is spent. As for the problems at Rikers Island she is in favor of federal receivership of the jail which she stressed is only a jail and not a prison. She mentioned a queens hospital where a new maternal health center was created with her getting federal funding with additional city funding to open the maternal health center, and when this reporter was able to ask the congresswoman if she would do the same thing at the empty building #2 at Jacobi Hospital in her district, her answer was a resounding yes because she knows of the problem that women in the Bronx have during pregnancy. After the Town Hall ended Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez met those who wanted to speak to her one on one. 

Congresswoman opened up her Town Hall meeting with ideas of how to deal with the Republican Majority in Congress now.

Shortly after she began several protesters of the U.S. support of Ukraine stood up with signs protesting, and were shortly escorted out of the crowded room.

The congresswoman then moved on to Key Facts on Immigration.

After speaking on some other subjects the congresswoman informed the audience where her new Coop-City office is, right in the same building where the Town Hall meeting was being held.

The Congresswoman then went into a Question and Answer period taking questions from the audience.

Before the first question could be asked there was another heckler from the back of the packed auditorium, who was quickly ejected by security. 

The congresswoman is asked a question about Social Security and Medicare, that was answered that she will not vote for any cuts to those programs.

Here the congresswoman is interviewed by News 12, and after the interview I was able to ask if she would support placing a Woman's Health, Birthing, and Wellness center in Building #2 at Jacobi Hospital in place of a potential parole home for detainees and inmates of Rikers Island. Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez said she would love to support a Woman's Health, Birthing, and Wellness Center in Building #2 at Jacobi Hospital which is in her district.

After the Town Hall and interviews Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez then answered individual questions members of the audience may of had. You can see one of the government agents watching to make sure there was no threats to the congresswoman.

MAYOR ADAMS ANNOUNCES PLACEMENT OF NEW HUMANITARIAN EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND RELIEF CENTER

 

Brooklyn Cruise Terminal Will Open in Coming Weeks to Assist Single Adult Men Seeking Asylum

 

New York City Continues to Handle Unprecedented Crisis Almost Entirely on Its Own

New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced the city will soon open a fifth Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Center at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal to temporarily serve the continued influx of asylum seekers arriving in New York City. As the estimated number of asylum seekers that have arrived in the city since last spring surpasses at least 41,000, this humanitarian relief center will assist single adult men and provide them with a range of services, in addition to ensuring they can reach their desired destination, if not New York City, until it closes ahead of cruise season this spring. The humanitarian relief center at Brooklyn Cruise Terminal will serve single adult men who will move from the Watson Hotel humanitarian relief center, in addition to other newly arriving adult men, as space permits. Once open, this site will serve approximately 1,000 asylum seekers and will offer the same services as adult men have been receiving at humanitarian relief centers, including on site medical, food, laundry, and reconnections. The Watson Hotel humanitarian relief center will transition to serve arriving families with children seeking asylum.

 

“With more than 41,000 asylum seekers arriving in New York City since last spring and nearly 28,000 asylum seekers currently in our care, our city is at its breaking point,” said Mayor Adams. “We continue to surpass both our moral and legal obligations and meet the needs of people arriving in New York, but as the number of asylum seekers continues to grow, we are in serious need of support from both our state and federal governments. This fifth Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Center will provide approximately 1,000 asylum seekers with a place to stay, access support, and get to their final destination.”

 

“We are and will continue to meet our obligations and serve all people seeking asylum with dignity and care,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom. “Thank you to our team for compassionately executing this work at each of our sites across the city.” “Our strategy from day one has been to continuously reassess our response to this crisis and find creative solutions to care for asylum seekers upon their arrival here,” said Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Philip Banks III. “As the numbers and demographics shift, so does our approach. What remains is our focus on addressing their needs, providing them with critical services, and ensuring a foundation is there for them to begin building their new lives.”

“As the demands of this humanitarian crisis evolve, New York City remains unwavering in our commitment to help those seeking asylum in our country,” said Ted Long, MD, MHS, senior vice president, Ambulatory Care and Population Health, NYC Health + Hospitals. “New York City has been a beacon of hope for generations of immigrants and is rising again to meet the moment. I am proud to support the unprecedented Adams administration response.”

“New York City will always remain a beacon of hope for those seeking a better life,” said New York City Emergency Management Commissioner Zach Iscol. “The Humanitarian Emergency Relief and Response Center at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal will aid asylum seekers as they transition into American society. Our team will continue to work with our partners to find alternative ways to support this humanitarian crisis.”

Since this humanitarian crisis began, the city has taken fast and urgent action, managing the arrival of a rapidly increasing number of buses across New York City with virtually no coordination from states sending them — opening 77 hotels as emergency shelters and four other humanitarian relief centers already, standing up navigation centers to connect asylum seekers with critical resources, enrolling children in public schools through Project Open Arms, and more.

Queens Man Sentenced to 36 Months in Prison for Multi-Million Dollar Prize Notice Fraud Scheme

 

 Scott Gammon was sentenced by United States District Judge Joan M. Azrack to 36 months in prison for participating in a mass mailing scheme that tricked consumers into paying fees for falsely promised cash prizes. As part of the sentence, Gammon was also ordered to forfeit $139,611.97.

Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Brian M. Boynton, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Civil Division, and Daniel B. Brubaker, Inspector-in-Charge, United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), announced the sentence.

“Financially exploiting the elderly and other victims through fraudulent prize schemes is a form of abuse and deserving of punishment as today’s sentence demonstrates,” stated United States Attorney Peace.  “A term in prison should deter others from preying on the vulnerable.”

“Participants in fraud schemes face the prospect of federal prison,” stated Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Boynton. “The Department of Justice is committed to protecting elderly and vulnerable Americans and to prosecuting individuals who engage in such schemes.”

“This sentencing brings to a close the investigation of Mr. Gammon, who devised a fake prize promotion scheme designed to defraud older Americans and steal from those who believed they had won a prize.  Unfortunately, for those who participated, they realized too late that they had been swindled. When a prize did not materialize, and their money was not returned, they became victims. Postal Inspectors remind consumers to be ever vigilant and play an active role in protecting their money.  If you’re asked to pay for a prize you didn’t enter to win, it’s a scam,” stated USPIS Inspector-in-Charge Brubaker.

From August 2014 through August 2019, Gammon engaged in a direct-mail scheme that sent fraudulent prize notification mailings to thousands of consumers. The mailings induced consumers to pay a fee, purportedly in return for a large cash prize. None of the consumers who sent a fee ever received such a prize.  Co-defendants Christopher King and Natasha Khan also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud and are awaiting sentencing.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated the case.

Assistant United States Attorney Charles P. Kelly of the Eastern District of New York’s Long Island Criminal Division is prosecuting the case with Trial Attorneys Daniel Zytnick and Timothy Finley of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch.  Assistant United States Attorney Tanisha Payne of the Eastern District’s Asset Recovery Section is handing forfeiture matters.

The department seeks to prevent the widespread losses seniors and other consumers suffer from fraud schemes.  The best method to prevent fraud is to share information about the various types of elder fraud schemes with relatives, friends, neighbors and other seniors who can use that information to protect themselves.

If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is available at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This Department of Justice hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professionals who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies, and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud, and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is staffed seven days a week from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. ET. English, Spanish and other languages are available.

Additional information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts may be found at www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. Information about the Department of Justice’s Elder Fraud Initiative is available at www.justice.gov/elderjustice.