Archive: NYS COVID-19 Resources & Information
2/8/21

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 - 2/8/21  

From Governor Cuomo’s most recent Zoom briefing:

OVERVIEW 

  • Day 345
  • Statewide Positivity rate 4.28%
  • 197,183 Test results reported
  • 114 deaths
  • 7,716 Hospitalizations, up 67
  • 1,454 ICU patients, down 5
  • 961 Intubations, down 18
  • Indoor dining will reopen in NYC beginning Friday 2/12 

HOSPITALIZATIONS REGION 

- Finger Lakes: 409 (0.03%)
- Western NY: 356 (0.03%)
- Southern Tier: 205 (0.03%)
- Mid-Hudson: 870 (0.04%)
- Central New York: 176 (0.02%)
- Mohawk Valley: 184 (0.04%)
- Capital Region: 326 (0.03%)
- NYC: 3,756 (0.04%)
- Long Island: 1,339 (0.05%)
- North Country: 95 (0.02%) 

POSITIVITY BY REGION 

- Finger Lakes: 2.99%
- Western NY: 4.26%
- Southern Tier: 1.33%
- Mid-Hudson: 5.30%
- Central New York: 2.04%
- Mohawk Valley: 2.96%
- Capital Region: 3.41%
- NYC: 5.10%
- Long Island: 5.47%
- North Country: 4.95%
- Manhattan: 3.48%
- Bronx: 7.03%
- Queens: 5.61%
- Staten Island: 5.22%
- Brooklyn 5.42% 

VACCINE 

  • 2,465,292 total doses administered.
  • 90% of allocated first doses administered.
  • Vaccine supply is now week-to-week but NYS is now being told how many vaccines to expect in the next few weeks.
  • 5,000 distribution centers are ready for additional vaccine supply.
  • 75% of hospital workers vaccinated but there is still a disparity in rates among hospitals.
  • DOH will be reviewing slow-vaccinating hospitals.
  • This week, NYS will allocate to hospitals whatever they need to finish vaccinating all eligible workers who want the vaccine.
  • Starting in Week 10 (week of Feb 15) will start using excess vaccine supply for people with pre-existing conditions.
  • People with comorbidities can begin making appointments at State mass vaccination sites on February 14.
  • Comorbidities will be validated with a doctor’s letter or medical information evidencing comorbidity, or signed certification.
  • State will audit local comorbidity validations systems with federal data system, Tiberius.
  • Johnson and Johnson filed for Emergency Use Authorization. 

REOPENING 

  • NYS needs state and local relief to prepare to reopen the economy.
  • NYS needs $15 billion for the state budget.
  • As NYS approaches 2 million vaccinations, "pop up" performances will be introduced to bring back the arts to cities.
  • There will be 300+ free pop-up events across the state over 100 days with opening day February 20th.
  • The pop-up events will begin the reopening process for the arts which will involve reopening venues with testing. 

FEDERAL 

  • President Biden is hoping to provide $350 billion for state and local relief.
  • $350 billion needs to be distributed fairly.
  • The Federal government needs to repeal SALT which is costing taxpayers $34 million a day. 

FROM THE Q&A 

On confusion over the vaccination process:

  • The state has to react to changes in COVID numbers and availability of the vaccine.
  • There are variables outside of the state's control. 

On vaccine fraud consequences:

  • Cuomo said he is expecting fraud to occur in this process, and addressing instances of fraud will be need to be enforced.

On adding more information to the Vaccine tracker webpage:

  • Over the weekend demographic and hospital distribution data was added.
  • The state is working to add more categories of data to the webpage. 

On whether hospital staff will be able to get the vaccine beyond the final week of allocation

  • 75% of hospital workers have been vaccinated and some will choose not to take it.
  • If people change their mind, or want to and have not had a chance to receive the vaccination, they will still receive the vaccination.
  • Only excess doses will be reallocated. 

On how ready the state vaccination appointment portal is to receive millions of new appointment registration attempts on Sunday:

  • Appointments will be booked very quickly on the portal and this will be an ongoing tension until supply increases.
  • The portal will open in the morning and the system will be overrun with people trying to make appointments, but people have to be patient in the process.