Archive: NYS COVID-19 Resources & Information
1/18/21

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 - 1/18/21     

From Governor Cuomo's latest Zoom debriefing:

OVERVIEW 

  • 6.54% overall statewide positivity rate
  • 186,205 tests conducted
  • 153 fatalities
  • 8,868 hospitalizations (+97)
  • 1,523 ICU patients (-27)
  • 997 intubations (-7)
  • The pilot testing program for the Bills playoff game seemed to work well. 

REGONAL HOSPITALIZATIONS 

- Finger Lakes: 774 (0.06%)
- Western NY: 504 (00.4%)
- Southern Tier: 243 (0.04%)
- Mid Hudson: 1,001 (0.04%)
- Central NY: 301 (0.04%)
- Mohawk Valley: 295 (0.06%)
- NYC: 3,449 (0.04%)
- Long Island: 1,649 (0.06%)
- Capital Region: 534 (0.05%)
- North Country: 118 (0.03%)

POSITIVITY RATE 

- Finger Lakes: 6.87%
- Western NY: 6.46%
- Southern Tier: 3.71%
- Mid Hudson: 7.25%
- Central NY: 5.84%
- Mohawk Valley: 7.78%
- NYC: 5.73%
- Long Island: 7.84%
- Capital Region: 5.84%
- North Country: 7.38%
- Manhattan: 3.48%
- Staten Island: 6.11%
- Brooklyn: 5.76%
- Queens: 6.14%
- Bronx: 7.07% 

NEW STRAIN

  • Could cause a second wave; we have not yet experienced a “second wave.”
  • These strains could be the dominant strains in March.
  • Now studying Brazilian and South African strains which could be worse.
  • We must test all international travelers now. 

VACCINE

  • The pace of the first does is accelerating:
                    -Week 1: 34,630
                    -Week 2: 54,491
                    -Week 3: 120,537
                    -Week 4: 235,462
                    -Week 5: 329,849
  • Overall statewide: 1,006,878
                    -First Dose: 903,131
                    -Second Dose: 103,747
  • Over 1 million doses have been administered.
  • Ten-fold increase in the number of vaccines that have been done.
  • Performance is uneven by region and by provider.
  • Doses administered to date vs. Week 1-5 allocation:
    - Finger Lakes: 76%
    - Western NY: 72%
    - Southern Tier: 83%
    - Mid Hudson: 70%
    - Central NY: 68%
    - Mohawk Valley: 78%
    - NYC: 65%
    - Long Island: 77%
    - Capital Region: 68%
    - North Country: 81%
  • More doses will be allocated to faster, higher performing facilities.
  • 100% of nursing home facilities have had their first dose; federally run program with partners.
    - 225,225 doses reserved LTC facilities
    - 105,000 doses used so far
    - 120,335 remain
  • The state will keep on reserve enough for all unvaccinated residents and remainder of staff who have not declined; all will have the opportunity for vaccination over the next 3 weeks.
  • The remainder will be put into the NYS vaccination program.
  • State Mass Vaccination Sites:
    - Capital Region/SUNY Albany: 3,174 (794/day)
    - NYC/Javits Center: 5,820 (1,164/day)
    - Mid-Hudson/Westchester Convention Center: 5,383 (1,076/day)
    - Central NY/State Fairgrounds: 3,919 (783/day)
    - Long Island/Jones Beach: 3,511 (877/day)
    TOTAL: 21,807
  • 8 additional State Sites will open this week:
    - SUNY Potsdam
    - Plattsburgh Airport
    - SUNY Buffalo
    - SUNY Binghamton
    - Aqueduct Racetrack
    - SUNY Stony Brook
    - SUNY POLY
    - Rochester Dome Arena 

Special Efforts for Social Equity

  • Build trust for the vaccine amongst these communities.
  • Reaching out to healthcare deserts: public housing, churches, community centers.
  • Opening pop-up vaccine sites, working with SOMOS & Northwell Health. 

HOSPITALS

  • Hospital capacity is still the danger zone/shut down indicator.
  • Unvaccinated doctors and nurses plus new strains is very concerning.
  • Staff shortage is an issue.
  • We need to complete 1a—healthcare worker vaccinations.
  • Only about 60% of hospital workers have been vaccinated.
  • There is variance by region.
  • Low vaccinated hospital staff will be the first hospitals to have capacity problems in a surge situation. 

FEDERAL

  • They increased eligibility of the vaccine but not distribution.
  • NYS Weekly Vaccine Allocation:
    - Week 1: 169,650
    - Week 2: 466,125
    - Week 3: 273,650
    - Week 4: 239,025
    - Week 5: 239,625
  • Now we have 7.1 million vaccines at only 300,000/week at this rate it will take 6/7 months to vaccinate all NYers.
  • Why would the federal government have raised the expectation for a vaccine when there is no supply.
  • Governor sent a letter to Secretary Azar due to negligence and lying to the American people. 
  • The federal government needs to increase supply.
  • Governor sent a letter to Pfizer today because they are not part of operation warp speed to therefore are not bound by it. Pfizer is a private company. Cuomo asked Pfizer if the state can buy vaccines directly from Pfizer. 

FROM THE Q&A

On how you identify the new strain/does it take longer?

  • There is limited information on these new strains and differing opinions.
  • We test for the strains and have only found the UK strain.
  • Tests are more elaborate for these new strains.