Archive: NYS COVID-19 Resources & Information
12/17/20

In the rapidly changing dynamics of combating the Coronavirus, information is updated constantly. This archive is being provided as an additional resource for those seeking to learn more about how New York State is addressing COVID-19.

LATEST NEWS & INFORMATION - 12/17/20     

From Governor Cuomo's latest Zoom debriefing:

OVERVIEW 

Day 291

  • Statewide rate without micro-clusters: 5.8%.
  • Statewide rate with micro-clusters: 6.2%.
  • Micro-cluster rate: 7%.
  • Rate on a 7-day average: 5.12%.
  • 160,000 tests conducted yesterday.
  • 95 deaths.
  • 6,097 hospitalizations, up 115.
  • 1,098 ICU patients, up 33.
  • 611 intubations, up 31. 

Hospitalizations by Region 

- Finger Lakes: 743 (0.06%)
- Western NY: 527 (0.04%)
- Southern Tier: 177 (0.03%)
- Mid Hudson: 722 (0.03%)
- NYC: 2,000 (0.02%)
- Long Island: 1013 (0.04%)
- Capital Region: 306 (0.03%)
- Central NY: 362 (0.05%)
- Mohawk Valley: 190 (0.04%)
- North Country: 57 (0.01%) 

Positivity Rate by Region 

- Finger Lakes: 8.21%
- Western NY: 6.70%
- Southern Tier: 2.31%
- Mid Hudson: 6.16%
- NYC: 4.14%
- Long Island: 5.85%
- Capital Region: 6.23%
- Central NY: 6.96%
- Mohawk Valley: 8.11%
- North Country: 4.39%
- Manhattan: 2.77%
- Staten Island: 5.30%
- Bronx: 4.46%
- Queens: 4.77%
- Brooklyn: 4.20% 

HOSPITALS 

  • "Celebrate Smart" PSA campaign will begin.
  • Hospital systems must be able to coordinate patient load.
  • GNYHA will coordinate downstate hospitals.
  • HANYS will coordinate upstate hospitals.
  • Northwell Health will be providing technical assistance statewide. 

VACCINE 

  • Vaccine implementation will take 6-9 months.
  • 87,750 total doses received so far.
  • State is expecting an additional 80,000 in the next few days, plus an additional shipment from Moderna.
  • State is setting up regional vaccination hubs led by local hospital systems, will set up a regional vaccination network for Phase II of vaccine, which is healthcare workers, high-risk general public.
  • Coordinators will work with local stakeholders to develop and implement a plan specific to each region by the first week in January.
  • State will approve the plan, provide support.
  • Phase II of doses anticipated in late January.
  • There will be no cost to the public for vaccination, DFS will direct insurers to cover any cost of vaccination. 

LOCAL COORDINATION 

- Finger Lakes: University of Rochester Medical Center
- Western NY: Catholic Health System in WNY
- Southern Tier: United Health Services
- Mid Hudson: Westchester Medical Center
- NYC: GNYHA
- Long Island: Northwell Health
- Capital Region: Albany Medical Center
- Mohawk Valley: Mohawk Valley Medical Center
- Central NY: SUNY Upstate Medical Center
- North Country: Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital 

FEDERAL 

  • State will advance $1.5 billion to organizations in need between now and February-March. 

FROM THE Q&A 

  • On agencies receiving funding:
    - Cuomo said these are organizations that would get funded from the state, but have a cash flow problem through February.
    - Budget Director Mujica added agencies are concerned about withholding, will be ensuring those agencies with critical needs can get through the end of the fiscal year.