Archive: NYS COVID-19 Resources & Information
1/9/21

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 - 1/9/21     

From Governor Cuomo's latest Zoom debriefing:

OVERVIEW 

  • Day 314
  • Statewide positivity rate without micro-clusters: 7.49%
  • Statewide rate with micro-clusters: 7.7%
  • Micro-cluster rate: 8.3%
  • 243,0000 tests conducted
  • 161 deaths
  • 8,561 hospitalizations, up 13
  • 1,475 ICU patients, up 51
  • 912 intubations, up 53 

REGONAL HOSPITALIZATIONS 

- Finger Lakes: 905 (0.08%)
- Western NY: 530 (0.04%)
- Southern Tier: 212 (0.03%)
- Mid Hudson: 980 (0.04%)
- NYC: 3,066 (0.04%)
- Long Island: 1,552 (0.05%)
- Central NY: 374 (0.05%)
- Mohawk Valley: 321 (0.07%)
- Capital Region: 515 (0.05%)
- North Country: 106 (0.03%)

POSITIVITY RATE 

- Finger Lakes: 10.22%
- Western NY: 8.61%
- Southern Tier: 5.30%
- Mid Hudson: 8.12%
- NYC: 6.42%
- Long Island: 9.68%
- Central NY: 8.57%
- Mohawk Valley: 10.80%
- Capital Region: 10.16%
- North Country: 8.45%
- Manhattan: 4.45%
- Staten Island: 7.84%
- Brooklyn: 6.70%
- Queens: 7.49%
- Bronx: 8.21% 

VACCINE

  • Cuomo said there is a "frightening infection rate" of new strain, combined with low supply of the vaccine.
  • The state is concerned about low vaccination rate for healthcare workers.
  • New distribution networks will be added to supplement the hospitals.
  • Private providers, ambulatory centers, pharmacies, county health departments will begin being utilized next week.
  • On Monday, reservations for vaccinations will be accepted, the state will have a website to sign up.
  • Healthcare workers must continue to be prioritized, but the next tier (1b) will be eligible, as well.
  • NYSDOH will hold a webinar on Monday for new providers and local health departments.
  • The state will allocate to distribution network proportionately by population of each group and region.
  • The state will be mandating social equity distribution by local health departments.
  • Cuomo will sign an EO making additional staff eligible to administer vaccinations.
  • DOH is setting up 20 "mass distribution sites" in the coming weeks: Javits Center will be open next Wednesday.
  • At the current rate, the first two tiers (1a) and (1b) will not be completed until mid-April. 

FROM THE Q&A 

On orange zone in Chemung county:

  • Cuomo will look at the numbers for this specific county, and then respond.
  • 7,000 tests done in anticipation of Bills playoff game, 1.9% were positive. 

On when vaccinations will start for second (1b) tier:

  • Appointments can be scheduled on Monday, some pharmacies will begin administering Monday, others will take longer.
  • The website will be available Monday, listing available sites and accepting reservations.
  • The Biden administration is currently working on increasing the supply available to states. 

On reallocation of vaccine from low-performing hospitals:

  • Performance from hospitals has increased over the last week, but low-performing hospitals will not receive additional allocations.
  • This issue is expected to be solved by the new distribution network being introduced next week. 

On current vaccination number:

  • 479,000 vaccines done so far in the state.
  • Nursing home residents and staff will be completed by the end of next week. 

On how the state will ensure healthcare workers will continue to be prioritized:

  • Providers must continue to give priority to healthcare workers when scheduling appointments.
  • New providers in the distribution network are required to vaccinate their own workers prior to administering the vaccine.