Archive: NYS COVID-19 Resources & Information
1/29/21

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 - 1/29/21 

From Governor Cuomo’s Zoom briefing in Albany:

OVERVIEW

  • Day 335
  • Statewide positivity rate: 4.65%
  • 270,518 tests conducted
  • 151 fatalities
  • 8,357 hospitalizations, down 163
  • 1,543 ICU patients, down 41
  • 1,012 intubations, down 12
  • 21 straight days of decline in positivity rate, hospitalizations
  • Positivity rate is the lowest since Dec. 11th
  • Models suggest numbers will continue to go down

REGIONAL HOSPITALIZATIONS

  •  Finger Lakes: 596 (0.05%)
  • Western NY: 402 (0.03%)
  • Southern Tier: 243 (0.04%)
  • Mid Hudson: (1,015 (0.04%)
  • NYC: 3,621 (0.04%)
  • Long Island: 1,489 (0.05%)
  • Central NY:213 (0.03%)
  • Mohawk Valley: 236 (0.05%)
  • Capital Region: 447 (0.04%)
  • North Country: 95 (0.02%)

POSITIVITY RATE

  • Finger Lakes: 4.37%
  • Western NY: 5.41%
  • Southern Tier: 2.36%
  • Mid Hudson: 6.27%
  • NYC: 5.27%
  • Long Island: 6.51%
  • Central NY: 3.67%
  • Mohawk Valley: 5.19%
  • Capital Region: 5.50%
  • North Country: 6.03%
  • Manhattan 3.47%
  • Staten Island: 5.53%
  • Brooklyn 5.57%
  • Queens: 5.80%
  • Bronx 7.06% 

VACCINATIONS

  • 1.7 million vaccinations so far, with second doses beginning to be administered.
  • All allocations have been used from the first six weeks.
  • Beginning to use the 250,400 doses coming in this week.
  • Vaccine administration still varying across the state for the general public and hospital workers.
  • 16% more doses will be received from feds next week, will continue for following two weeks, local governments will receive.
  • 73% of hospitals workers vaccinated to date, which Gov. called "great progress."
  • Supply is the main obstacle with the vaccine, not distribution of it.
  • Cuomo called on Biden administration to consider the Defense Production Act.
  • Vaccines are being distributed and administered fairly.

NEW VACCINE SITE

  • Positivity rate in the Bronx is still high.
  • Mass vaccination site opening at Yankee Stadium.
  • New site is a partnership with NYC, Somos Community Care, the Yankees, and Army National Guard.
  • If local governments need assistance with ensuring social equity, the state should be contacted.

INDOOR DINING IN NYC

  • Indoor dining can resume at 25% capacity in NYC on Valentine's day.
  • No spread has been seen from Bills' playoff games, evidences testing can be utilized to open venues.

MARRIAGE RECEPTIONS

  • Wedding receptions will be allowed effective March 15th.
  • All guests must be tested prior to the event.
  • 50% capacity; up to 150 people will be allowed.
  • Will need to be approved by local DOH.
  • State is developing guidance and more rapid testing capacity.
  • An app is being developed as well.

COVID VARIANTS

  • If hospital capacity reaches 85% in any regions, restrictions will be implemented.
  • Regarding mutations of the virus, Cuomo said the state has demonstrated it can manage the virus.

FROM THE Q&A

On report from AG James on nursing home death data:

  • Dr. Zucker: State has "always been transparent" in facility deaths and acknowledged there would be additional deaths in hospitals.
  • DOH is still working on the hospital data.
  • Dr. Zucker said he thought it best to release numbers in real time once he saw report from AG.
  • Dr. Zucker stressed the number report does not indicate a different total number of deaths than DOH has reported, and say deaths were undercounted is "factually inaccurate."
  • NYS DOH has followed CDC guidance from the start.
  • Dr. Zucker added it is an ongoing process to accurately review all data.

On whether 25% capacity for indoor dining in NYC is adequate for businesses to remain operating:

  • This is better than a full closure, and capacity will increase if numbers continue to improve.

On Johnson & Johnson vaccine efficacy rate of 70%, and if this vaccine will be useful at that rate:

  • Cuomo said he is not commenting on effectiveness of any vaccine, but he does not believe this vaccine has been approved yet.
  • Manufacturing capacity needs to be increased for the best of the vaccines available.

On why hospital deaths were counted differently and whether the state will continue with that:

  • DOH counts deaths based upon facility where fatality occurred.
  • Total count is based on nursing home and hospital deaths combined.
  • Dr. Zucker added hospital numbers were being tracked first, when nursing home deaths began, those were counted separately.
  • De Rosa added no guidance on how to report data was provided from federal government.
  • 13 states report no data on nursing home deaths, and only 9 including NY give presumed COVID deaths.
  • DOH was concerned over duplicating deaths, and decided to keep them separate and then conduct an audit.
  • Data needed to be broken down further than total numbers.

On any plans for to allow baseball and Broadway shows:

  • A pop-up arts program will be opening to boost arts in NYC
  • Cuomo will discuss more on that in coming weeks
  • Testing prior to events has shown promise, will be key to reopening the economy

On whether Gov. would have handled nursing homes differently in retrospect:

  • Federal guidance stated those deemed not to be contagious could return from hospitals to nursing homes if the nursing home could adequately care for that patient.
  • De Rosa added between March and June, 3,500 staff were going into facilities without being tested, and at that time, asymptomatic spread had not yet been identified.
  • De Rosa indicated 35% of deaths nationally are nursing home deaths, and suggested the problem is not unique to NY.

On whether Gov. would support an investigation into how DOH handled data for future policies:

  • Cuomo reiterated DOH produced both numbers and those need to be broken down into further categories.
  • Data from nursing homes were sporadic, so DOH is auditing for accuracy.
  • Dr. Zucker noted data also comes into two different systems.
  • De Rosa repeated duplicate reporting was being done at first, concern was over inflated numbers.