Plugged In To Covid-19

February 3, 2021

Plugged Into COVID-19Coverage of State Actions Surrounding COVID-19

Since the emergence of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes coronavirus disease in late 2019, the state has been required to implement mitigation strategies, as well as provide resources for communities and institutions. To help keep clients informed and up to date on the pandemic, the Team at Hinman Straub has released Plugged In To COVID-19; a daily newsletter providing coverage of NY state actions.

What’s Inside Plugged In To COVID-19

  • Governor’s Briefing and Announcements
  • Updated Links and Resources

Governor’s Briefings and Announcements on COVID-19

During the Governor’s most recent briefing, he provided an update on statewide COVID-19 data and activity as of 2/1/2021. The overall statewide positivity rate is 5.47%, and statewide hospitalizations increased by 64, for a total of 8,067. ICU admissions associated with COVID-19 total 1,503, of which 1,004 are intubated. The Governor also confirmed that on the previous day, 146 New Yorkers have passed away as a result of the Novel Coronavirus.

Though lower than the previous day, Long Island and the Mid-Hudson regions continue to present the highest positivity rates out of the ten regions, with 6.03%, and 5.76% respectively. Out of the five boroughs in New York City, the Bronx presents a COVID positivity rate of 6.47%, the highest of the five. The State’s positivity rate based on a 7-day rolling average is at 4.95%, below 5% for the first time since 12/6/2020.

Vaccinations administered across the State have reached more that 2 million total doses, of which 1.6 million are first doses and almost 0.4 million being second doses. Following the recent severe winter weather conditions in areas of the State, vaccinations at state-run facilities should resume on Wednesday February 3rd. State officials anticipate and are planning for additional inclement weather or storm systems arriving later in the week.

After this week’s meeting between the National Governor’s Association and the White House Officials, Governor Cuomo announced that the federal supply of vaccine to the states will increase by an additional 5%, beyond the 16% increase announced last week, for a net increase of over 20% over the 250,000 doses delivered in week 6. Additional federal support will be provided to private pharmacies, which will receive an additional 30,000 doses (or 10% of the state’s allocation) directly from the federal government and will be prioritized for the 65 and over population. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will provide states 100% reimbursement for appropriate reimbursable expenses related to COVID-19, retroactively back to January 2020. This is estimated to provide about $1 billion in financial relief to the State.

While the State is set to receive additional doses of vaccine, the Governor will sanction local governments discretion to expand eligible groups under Phase 1B of the phased vaccine distribution plan among taxi drivers; restaurant workers; and/or developmentally disabled facilities.

The State will also target vaccinations to high positivity zip codes/locations, starting with a state-run mass vaccination site in the Bronx, to be set up at the NY Yankees’ Stadium.

Updated Links and Resources

Hinman Straub Resources:

New York Forward:

Department of Health:

State Education Department