Governor Hochul Announces New York Department of State's Division of Consumer Protection Has Returned Nearly $2.4 Million to New York Consumers in 2022

 

Division of Consumer Protection Helped Nearly 20,000 New Yorkers with Consumer Complaints in 2022

To Kick Off National Consumer Protection Week, Division of Consumer Protection is Sharing the Top Five Categories of Consumer Complaints Received in 2022 with Tips to Protect Consumers

 To kick off National Consumer Protection Week, Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that the New York Department of State's Division of Consumer Protection assisted 19,752 New Yorkers with a variety of consumer protection matters in 2022, resulting in nearly $2.4 million being returned to consumers. National Consumer Protection Week is celebrated during the first full week of March every year to help individuals understand their rights as consumers and to share resources available to help protect them. This year National Consumer Protection week falls on March 5 - 11, and the Division of Consumer Protection is sharing the top five categories of consumer complaints received in 2022 with tips to educate, inform and protect consumers on these topics.

"My administration has worked diligently to return millions of dollars to consumers that fraudulent businesses stole out of the pockets of hard-working New Yorkers," Governor Hochul said. "With tips and tools available to stay safe in this fast-changing economy, we will continue to protect consumers, ensure New Yorkers are informed of their rights, and hold dishonest businesses accountable."

Secretary of State Robert J. Rodriguez said, "Over the last year, our Division of Consumer Protection has worked tirelessly to help thousands of New Yorkers recover their hard-earned money from unscrupulous businesses. We will continue this important work to help ensure consumers are informed of their rights and have the tools they need to protect themselves and their families from fraud."

Top Five Categories of Consumer Complaints DCP Received in 2022 and Tips to Protect Consumers:

Orders/Deliveries: Complaints related to the order and delivery of goods purchased, including missing items, incorrect items received, late or delayed delivery or items never shipped.

For example, a consumer from Westchester County ordered bedroom furniture from a large retailer in Brooklyn. At the time of sale, the shipping date was scheduled for February 3rd, but it was later moved to April 3rd. Upon learning of the new date, the consumer contacted the furniture store to cancel the order, however, they were told they would incur a 15% restocking fee. The consumer filed a complaint with DCP, and DCP was able to arrange for a full refund to the consumer.

Consumers should:

• Remember to always shop on trusted sites when online shopping. Consumers should shop from sites known to them and exercise caution when shopping from unfamiliar sites or those that host items for third-party sellers.
• Learn about the Federal Mail, Internet, or Telephone Order Merchandise Rule of 1975, which generally requires retailers to deliver products ordered by mail, phone, or online within 30 days unless otherwise stated at the time of purchase. If there is a delay, you must be notified. If the company cannot reach you to obtain your consent to the delay, they must, without being asked, promptly refund all the money you paid for the unshipped merchandise.
• Be careful when shopping through social media. Social media commerce is gaining ground among shoppers, and according to experts it's growing three times faster than more traditional ecommerce economies. As more consumers browse and shop directly or through links found on social media platforms, we urge consumers to pay attention to brand imposters and fake retailers with fake consumer reviews. Research and verify vendors to avoid placing orders on copycat sites for products that will never arrive.
• Keep track of your packages. Review the tracking information for your package and report any issues to the retailer and shipping company immediately.
• Consumers should be aware that an unsolicited text message or email about an unfamiliar shipment or delivery may be a sign of a package tracking and delivery scam, and they should exercise caution if one is received.

Refunds/Store Policy: Complaints related to refunds and store policies, including return policies, restocking fees, and refunds for damaged goods.

For example, a consumer from Bronx County purchased cookware from a direct salesman. She received the cookware four days later and decided she no longer thought it was worth the cost. The consumer contacted the cookware company and was told that, pursuant to the "Cooling Off Rule", she only had three days from the date of purchase to initiate a return. However, the consumer noted that the company website advertised a return policy of ten days after a consumer receives the merchandise. The consumer shipped everything back to the company three days after receiving it, however, the company refused to issue a refund. DCP reached out to the company on behalf of the consumer and arranged for the consumer to receive a full refund of $2000.

Consumers should:

• Know your rights. In NYS, stores must clearly post their refund policies. When no refund policy is posted, consumers have 30 days from the purchase date to receive a full refund or a credit (at the consumer's option). You must provide a receipt or other confirmation provided by the vendor that shows that 30 days has not elapsed from the date of purchase, and the merchandise must not have been used or damaged.
• Ask about refund policies. Before making an expensive purchase, ask the store to provide information on any conditions or costs, such as restocking fees, relating to the return of merchandise.
• Save all receipts for purchases to allow for ease of returns.

Merchandise/Product: Complaints related to merchandise or products that did not meet consumers' expectations.

For example, a consumer in Nassau County purchased a new range from an appliance store. Immediately after installation, the range would intermittently shut off during cooking. The consumer contacted the retailer who directed her to the manufacturer. After numerous phone calls and attempts to resolve the issue with the manufacturer, the consumer reached out to DCP. After contacting the manufacturer, DCP was able to arrange for the consumer to receive a full refund of $7,303 and removal of the range.

Consumers should:

• Shop on trusted sites to avoid fraud. Be aware that if a website leads to a third-party to order merchandise, the first website is not liable for the orders made on the third-party site. Always read verified customer reviews before placing an order on a new website.
• Always read product specifications to be sure of the product you will receive. Make sure that what is being pictured is the product that you expect to receive.
• When shopping for children, check that products are age-appropriate for their safety—manufacturers are required to provide this information on the packaging. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) updates consumers regularly on product recalls, a great tool to shop safely.
• Review store return policies and keep receipts for ease of returns.

Home Improvement: Complaints related to home improvement, repair services and contractors.

For example, a consumer in Niagara County hired a franchise painting company to repair holes in a few walls and repaint the interior of their home. The work done was covered by warranty, so when some of the tape used to patch the holes began to peel, the consumer tried to contact the company for repair. Unfortunately, the franchise company had since gone out of business. The consumer tried contacting the parent company multiple times but did not receive a reply. DCP reached out to the parent company on behalf of the consumer and was able to arrange to have the repair work completed under warranty and at no cost to the consumer.

Consumers should:

• Get at least three estimates from reputable, insured contractors that include a list of the materials, price and services to be provided for the job.
• Request and check references from the contractor. Look up the contractor through the Better Business Bureau and other websites and speak to local suppliers and friends to see if they have information that may be helpful. If you live in New York City, Westchester, Nassau, Suffolk, Orange, Putnam or Rockland Counties, check your local consumer affairs office. If you live in another county, check with your local municipality to see if they license home improvement contractors.
• If the contract price is more than $500, New York State law requires a written contract that includes the contractor contact information (including phone number), price, payment schedule, start and end dates and a thorough description of the work to be done.
• Negotiate a payment schedule tied to the completion of specific stages of the job. Never pay the full price up front and try to limit the amount of any deposit made prior to the commencement of work.
• Ensure you receive and save copies of all warranties, including those on the materials used.
• Know your rights. Consumers have three days to cancel after signing a contract for home improvements. All cancellations must be in writing.

Credit Cards: Complaints related to erroneous charges, billing, card benefits and illegal surcharges.

For example, a consumer in Cayuga County purchased a trip through her travel credit card, which included several travel benefits and services such as trip cancellation insurance. Four days before the scheduled trip, the consumer's husband suffered a medical emergency that qualified for trip cancellation. The consumer filed a claim with her credit card company, submitted the required supporting documentation, and then repeatedly contacted them over the next four months for an update. She was promised a call back by a claims examiner numerous times but never received one. Once the consumer filed a complaint with DCP, DCP contacted the credit card company and arranged for the consumer to receive a full refund totaling over $15,000.

Consumers should:

• Review your bills carefully. Examine all charges and ensure they are for services you requested and are receiving.
• Be aware of charges for automatic contract renewals. It is illegal in New York State to continue charging someone for an online service without offering an easy way to also cancel the service online.
• Always read the fine print. Make sure you review the terms and conditions of service and understand the provisions of contracts.

The Federal Trade Commission leads several public events during National Consumer Protection Week that promote consumer protection awareness. All events are free to join and can be found here.

About the New York State Division of Consumer Protection

The New York State Division of Consumer Protection's mission is to assist, protect, educate, and represent consumers in an ever-changing economy. The Division of Consumer Protection works hard to assist individuals aggrieved in the marketplace through its complaint mediation efforts, along with educating the public on marketplace scams, and advocating consumers' interest before legislative and regulatory bodies.

The New York State Division of Consumer Protection serves to educate, assist and empower the State's consumers. Consumers can file a complaint with the Division of Consumer Protection at https://dos.ny.gov/file-consumer-complaint.

For more consumer protection information, call the DCP Helpline at 800-697-1220, Monday through Friday, 8:30am-4:30pm, or visit www.dos.ny.gov/consumer-protection. For regular consumer protection tips and recall information, follow DCP via Twitter at @NYSConsumer or Facebook at www.facebook.com/nysconsumer. Sign up to receive consumer alerts directly to your email or phone here.

Former U.S. Army Soldier Sentenced To 45 Years In Prison For Attempting To Murder Fellow Service Members In Deadly Ambush

 

 Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that ETHAN PHELAN MELZER, a/k/a “Etil Reggad,” was sentenced to 45 years in prison for attempting to murder U.S. service members, providing and attempting to provide material support to terrorists, and illegally transmitting national defense information.  MELZER planned a jihadist attack on his U.S. Army unit in the days leading up to a deployment to Turkey and sent sensitive details about the unit — including information about its location, movements, and security — to members of the extremist organization Order of the Nine Angles (“O9A”), a white supremacist, neo-Nazi, and pro-jihadist group.  MELZER pled guilty on June 24, 2022, before U.S. District Judge Gregory H. Woods, who imposed today’s sentence.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Ethan Melzer infiltrated the U.S. Army in service of a neo-Nazi, white supremacist, and jihadist group.  He used his membership in the military to pursue an appalling goal: the brutal murder of his fellow U.S. service members in a carefully plotted ambush.  By unlawfully disclosing his unit’s location, strength, and armaments to other O9A members and jihadists in furtherance of this ambush, Melzer traitorously sought to attack the very soldiers he was entrusted to protect.  This sentence makes clear that Melzer’s brazen actions backfired and that this Office — along with our partners in law enforcement and the military — will work tirelessly to bring traitors like Melzer to justice and to protect the safety and integrity of our armed services.”

According to the Indictment and other documents in the public record, as well as statements made in public court proceedings:

MELZER is a member of O9A.  O9A espouses neo-Nazi, anti-Semitic, and Satanic beliefs and promotes extreme violence to accelerate and cause the demise of Western civilization.  The group has expressed admiration both for Nazis, such as Adolf Hitler, and Islamic jihadists, such as Usama Bin Laden, the now-deceased former leader of al Qaeda.  Members and associates of O9A have also participated in acts of violence, including murders.  O9A members are instructed to fulfill “sinister” deeds, including “insight roles,” where they attempt to infiltrate various organizations, including the military, to gain training and experience, commit acts of violence, identify like-minded individuals, and ultimately subvert those groups from within.

MELZER joined the U.S. Army in approximately 2018 and infiltrated its ranks as part of an insight role to further his goals as an O9A adherent.  In approximately October 2019, MELZER deployed abroad with the Army to Italy as a member of the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team.  While stationed abroad, MELZER consumed propaganda from multiple extremist groups, including O9A and the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham, which is also known as ISIS.  For example, MELZER subscribed to encrypted online forums where he downloaded and accessed videos of jihadist attacks on U.S. troops and facilities and jihadist executions of civilians and soldiers, in addition to far-right, neo-Nazi, and other white supremacist propaganda. 

In approximately early May 2020, the Army informed MELZER that he would be reassigned to a unit scheduled for a further foreign deployment, where the unit would be guarding an isolated and sensitive military installation (the “Military Base”).  After he was notified of the assignment, MELZER joined his new unit and attended weeks of training, including classified and unclassified briefings, to prepare for the deployment.  As part of this intensive training, MELZER learned details about the purpose, layout, and security of the Military Base.  MELZER and his unit also received in-depth training about and practiced for numerous threat scenarios at the Military Base, including how to respond to various potential terrorist attack scenarios.  

Upon learning the importance and sensitivity of his upcoming deployment, MELZER immediately began passing that information to members of O9A.  MELZER secretly used an encrypted messaging application to propose, advocate for, and plan a deadly attack on his fellow service members.  MELZER sent messages to members and associates of O9A and, in particular, a sub-group of O9A known as the “RapeWaffen Division,” providing details about his unit’s anticipated deployment including troop movements, relevant dates, locations, armaments, topography, and security, all in connection with the proposed attack on his unit and the Military Base.  MELZER and his co-conspirators used this information to plan what they referred to as a “jihadi attack” with the objective of causing a “mass casualty” event victimizing his fellow service members.  For example, after describing the unit’s weaponry during the deployment — and providing information consistent with the briefings he had received — MELZER described to his co-conspirators how an attack would “essentially cripple[]” the unit’s “fire-teams.”

To further the attack plan, MELZER and his co-conspirators passed these messages to a purported member of al Qaeda.  MELZER’s proposed attack evolved as he gathered and distributed additional sensitive information about the deployment.  For example, MELZER also promised to leak more information once he arrived at the Military Base — including real-time photographs of the facility and the frequency and channel of U.S. Army radio communications — in order to maximize the likelihood of a successful attack on his unit or on a replacement unit deployed to the Military Base. 

MELZER told members of O9A in his encrypted electronic communications “[y]ou just gotta understand that currently I am risking my literal free life to give you all this” and that he was “expecting results.”  MELZER further acknowledged that he could be killed during the attack and described his willingness to die for O9A’s goals, writing “who gives a fuck [. . .] it would be another war . . . I would’ve died successfully . . . cause [] another 10 year war in the Middle East would definitely leave a mark.”  MELZER also acknowledged in his messages that he deleted some of the communications regarding the planning of the attack because the plot amounted to treason.

In addition to the prison term, MELZER, 24, of Louisville, Kentucky, was sentenced to three years of supervised release.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (“FBI”) New York Joint Terrorism Task Force, which principally consists of agents from the FBI and detectives from the New York City Police Department, along with the FBI’s Legal Attaché Office in Rome, Italy, the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, U.S. Army Counterintelligence, U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command, Attorneys from the U.S. Army Africa Office of the Staff Judge Advocate and 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, and the U.S. Department of State Diplomatic Security Service.  Mr. Williams also thanked the Counterterrorism Section and the Counterintelligence and Export Control Section of the Department of Justice’s National Security Division, as well as the Department’s Office of International Affairs, for their assistance.

MAYOR ADAMS LAUNCHES MARKETING CAMPAIGN PROMOTING ENHANCED EARNED INCOME TAX BENEFITS AVAILABLE TO ELIGIBLE NEW YORKERS THIS TAX SEASON

 

EITC Expanding for First Time in Nearly Two Decades, Providing Additional Cash Back to Over 800,000 New Yorkers

 

New Campaign Aims to Ensure Working Class New Yorkers Get Benefits They Deserve

New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced the launch of a $1.5 million multimedia marketing campaign to promote the expanded New York City Earned Income Tax Credit (NYC EITC), which is available to eligible New Yorkers during this year’s tax season. Starting tomorrow, Saturday March 4^th, the city will run a new marketing campaign on television, radio, social media, in print, and out-of-home advertising (i.e. billboards, posters, or any other forms of media consumed outside the home) to promote the enhanced benefit and provide information on how eligible New Yorkers can access it.

 

“This tax season, working class New Yorkers can expect to see more cash back than ever before, but only if they claim what’s theirs,” said Mayor Adams. “Last year, we went to Albany and secured an expansion of the city’s EITC for the first time in almost 20 years, and matched that with city action. Now, we are launching a marketing campaign to encourage eligible New Yorkers to take advantage of this expanded benefit. This is how we ‘Get Stuff Done’ for working New Yorkers.”

 

“The Earned Income Tax Credit is a lifeline for hundreds of thousands of families across New York City,” said Deputy Mayor for Economic and Workforce Development Maria Torres-Springer. “Last year’s expansion of the EITC was an historic achievement and the launch of this broad-based marketing campaign will ensure that New Yorkers in every corner of every borough are ready to seize this opportunity and put money back in their pockets.”

 

“The expanded New York City EITC is a win for working New Yorkers, helping them to better afford essentials, like food, health care, and child care,” said New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) Commissioner Vilda Vera Mayuga. “If you qualify for the EITC, chances are you also qualify for our NYC Free Tax Prep program to help you file your taxes for free. Thank you to Mayor Adams for fighting for this expansion and giving more New Yorkers back their hard-earned money, and for launching this campaign to help spread the word about this incredibly valuable tax credit.”

 

“The Mayor’s Office of Ethnic and Community Media is proud to spearhead this marketing campaign to spread awareness about the enhanced Earned Income Tax Credit available to eligible New Yorkers this tax season,” said Mayor’s Office of Ethnic and Community Media Executive Director José Bayona. “This campaign will ensure working New Yorkers know whether they qualify and how they can access this important benefit to support themselves and their families.”

 

Last year, thanks to efforts by Mayor Adams, Albany, and the City Council, the adopted state budget increased the state and city match to the federal EITC for the first time in nearly 20 years. After the city committed $250 million annually to the NYC EITC, it received a one-time state payment of $100 million. Under the city’s expansion of this program, a single parent with one child and an annual income of $14,750 or less will see their benefit rise from $187 to $933 — a 400 percent increase. A married couple with two children and an annual income of $25,000 will see their New York City benefit grow from $308 to $925 under the city payment — a 200 percent increase. The expansion of the NYC EITC will help approximately 800,000 New Yorkers who would be able to better afford essential items like food, rent, and utilities, as well as promote a more equitable recovery across the city.

 

The marketing campaign is being managed by the Mayor’s Office of Ethnic and Community Media. The creative was produced by Athena, and the media placement is overseen by Venus Media Group, both city-certified M/WBE media vendors.

 

The campaign complements DCWP’s annual NYC Free Tax Prep campaign. NYC Free Tax Prep provides free, professional tax preparation that can help New Yorkers keep their full refund, including valuable tax credits, like the NYC EITC. The new NYC Free Tax Prep for self-employed New Yorkers will also provide income tax preparation services to freelance workers and small businesses. The Internal Revenue Service’s deadline to file tax returns is Tuesday, April 18, 2023.

 

Details about the marketing campaign can be found here. New Yorkers can call 311 or visit New York City’s tax prep website to choose the best filing option for themselves and find the most convenient location if choosing in-person or drop-off tax prep. A checklist of what documents New Yorkers need to bring with them to file and multilingual information about the services are available online. In-person services are available in English, Arabic, Armenian, Bengali, Chinese, French, Haitian-Creole, Hebrew, Korean, Russian, Spanish, Urdu, and more.

Council Member Marjorie Velázquez - What's Happening in District 13

 

Dear Neighbor,

Every day, women across the world and here in our community, are taking action and contributing to causes they support. Whether they are introducing legislation, inventing the latest technology, or simply being a part of a movement to inspire young girls and women, there is much to celebrate during Women’s History Month. Remember, you are capable of anything you put your mind to, regardless of what others may think.

Earlier this week, our city had it’s first winter storm, prompting the postponement of this year’s State of the District address. Though not an easy decision, the safety of my community comes first - always. An alternate date of Monday, March 13, 2023, at 7 PM, has been set. This year’s event will take place at PS 121, where I will share community updates, legislative achievements, and more. For more information about this year’s event or how to RSVP, please scroll to ‘What’s Happening in District 13.’

In this week’s email, you will find information about legislative announcements, Property Tax Exemptions and Rebates, and career and job search resources. There is still time to apply to the Department of Environmental Protection’s Water Amnesty Program and Citi Bike’s Community Grants; information on how to apply can be found in ‘Community Resources.’ Also, be sure to also follow us on social media for the latest updates and real-time announcements. As the spring quickly approaches, there will be plenty of activities and programs for the entire family.

In the meantime, if you have any questions, please call us at (718) 931-1721 or email us at District13@council.nyc.gov.

Sincerely,

Council Member Marjorie Velázquez

State of the District - March 13, 2023

Due to inclement weather earlier this week, this year’s State of the District address was postponed until Monday, March 13 at 7 PM. This year’s address will be at P.S. 121 - The Throop School. This year’s event will feature updates on our community, legislative achievements, and more. Those who have already registered do not need to re-register, and will receive an updated ticket via email.

Please note that this event is open to the public and requires an RSVP; to RSVP, please copy and paste the link below.

RSVP: NYC-CD13-STOD.eventbrite.com

Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress Combating COVID-19 - MARCH 3, 2023

 

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 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 every New Yorker 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."Stay up to date on vaccine doses and be sure to 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 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 health preparedness efforts this winter.

Last week, the New York State Department of Health launched a new 12-week campaign on television, social media and streaming services to encourage New Yorkers with underlying medical conditions to recognize the importance of getting and staying up-to-date with the recommended COVID-19 bivalent booster to avoid serious illness or death. These conditions including being 65 or older, pregnant, obese, diabetic, or suffering from heart or lung disease, or having a weakened immune system.

Additionally, the Department of Health released its weekly flu surveillance report for the week ending February 25 and showing influenza remaining geographically widespread throughout the state for a twenty-first consecutive week, with a total of 317,694 positive cases reported this season to date. The report found that confirmed cases statewide decreased 23 percent to 1,887 for the week, while overall hospitalizations were up 1 percent from the previous week, at 186 hospitalizations across the state.

There were two outbreaks in acute care and long-term care facilities, the report determined. There was one influenza-associated pediatric death reported for the week, for a total of 11 statewide.

With flu season continuing, Governor Hochul reminds all New Yorkers that it's not too late 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. In December, 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 - 7.96
• 7-Day Average Cases Per 100k - 7.49
• Test Results Reported - 44,074
• Total Positive - 1,555
• Percent Positive - 3.36%**
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 3.09**
• Patient Hospitalization - 1,696 (-62)
• Patients Newly Admitted - 258
• Patients in ICU - 187 (-2)
• Patients in ICU with Intubation - 75 (+4)
• Total Discharges - 404,491 (+296)
• New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 10
• Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 61,894

** 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 - 78,701

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 - 43,835,263
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 24 hours - 4,220
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 7 days - 26,726
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series - 85.5%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 90.7%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older who are up to date - 16.1%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 12-17 with completed vaccine series - 74.6%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 12-17 with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 76.3%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 12-17 who are up to date - 6.4%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 5-11 with completed vaccine series - 40.1%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 5-11 with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 41.0%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 5-11 who are up to date - 3.8%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 0-4 with completed vaccine series - 7.7%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 0-4 who are up to date - 7.7%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series - 76.5%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 80.8%
• Percent of all New Yorkers who are up to date - 13.9%

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,   February   28, 2023	Wed.  March   1, 2023	Thursday,   March   2, 2023
Bronx	2.01%	1.97%	1.90%
Kings	1.60%	1.58%	1.57%
New York	2.55%	2.54%	2.73%
Queens	2.31%	2.21%	2.28%
Richmond	2.41%	2.47%	2.41%