Plugged In To Covid-19 – January 30, 2021

 

What’s Inside

  • Governor’s Briefings and Announcements
  • Executive Order No. 202.92
  • OAG’s Report on Response to COVID-19 in Nursing Homes

Governor’s Briefings and Announcements

The Governor held a briefing on Friday, where he provided an update on statewide COVID-19 data and activity as of 1/26/2021. The overall statewide positivity rate is 4.65% which is the lowest rate since December 11, 2020, and hospitalizations are 8,357 which is a decrease of 163 from the day prior. Also, ICU admissions are down by 41 for a total of 1,543, with intubations down by 12, for a total of 1,012. The Governor also confirmed that, on the previous day, 151 New Yorkers have passed away as a result of COVID-19.

The Governor highlighted areas of the state where rates remain concerning include the Finger Lakes and Long Island which have the highest rates of hospitalization (0.05%), and the COVID-19 positivity rate in the Bronx is 7.06%. The statewide positivity rate is 5.35%, based on a 7-day rolling average.

Statewide vaccinations administered have reached a total of 1.78 million doses, with 1.4 million being first doses and 315,736 second doses, excluding numbers from the federal partnership program in long-term care facilities. The Governor reiterated that vaccine allocation sent to New York will increase by up to 16% next week, and the two weeks to follow. Overall, on average 73% of hospital workers have been vaccinated to date, which is up from 63% on January 18th.

State mass vaccination sites continue to be established in areas of need, specifically there is one being set up at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. The State is offering help to local governments where there are concerns of social equity when distributing the vaccine, and the State help ensure access and to confidence in the efficacy of the vaccine.

The Governor announced that restaurants in New York City may resume limited indoor dining, at 25% capacity, beginning on February 14, 2021 – St. Valentine’s Day. Also, after monitoring the results from a demonstration program at the Buffalo Bills game earlier this month, the Governor announced that the state will allow marriage ceremonies, with testing of all attendees, a maximum of 50% capacity of the venue – up to 150 people, and the approval of the local department of health.

“Variants of Interest,” refers the various known, or yet to be discovered, strains of the coronavirus. The Governor referred to, and applied this new term when explaining the reasoning for maintaining a cautious approach to the State’s forward progress in re-opening its economy. With a level of uncertainty still at hand with regard to the “variants of interest”, the state will continue with its 85% hospital capacity threshold that would trigger enhanced restrictions, and will continue to apply a fact based strategy.

The Governor grounded expectations regarding the period of time for delivering the vaccine to New Yorkers, stating it will easily take six to nine months, unless manufacturing of the vaccine is not increased, or additional vaccines “come on line.” He encouraged the federal government to invoke the Defense Production Act to dramatically increase production of the vaccine.

Executive Order No. 202.92

The Governor has issued Executive Order (“EO”) No. 202.92 which continues the State Disaster Emergency, effective on March 7, 2020, for an additional 30 days through February 26, 2021. This EO also continues the suspensions and modifications of law, and any directives unless superseded, modified or otherwise expired, made by EO No. 202 and each successor Executive Order to 202, for thirty days until February 26, 2021.

Additional suspensions and modifications under this EO provide for the following.

  • The deadline to pay the first half of 2021 general taxes on the Nassau County tax roll, without interest or penalties, is extended from February 10, 2021 to March 12, 2021.
  • Limited service laboratories are permitted to also test for COVID-19 infection using a rapid test, as directed by a licensed pharmacist, as part of the enhanced economic activity plan authorized by the DOH, provided that such test is approved by the FDA and waived for use in a limited-service laboratory. These laboratories may use this EO as the authorized ordering source in any reporting and documentation associated with testing pursuant to the enhanced economic activity plan authorized by DOH, and must report any positive results to DOH within 24 hours via the ECLRS, and also to the local departments of health.
  • Licensed pharmacists may also order and administer tests for detecting COVID-19, or antibody tests by standing order provided that such test is approved by the FDA and subject to certificate of waiver requirements pursuant to the federal clinical laboratory improvement act in, and performed in a limited service laboratory.
  • Property tax payments that are due in Saratoga County are extended for a period of 21 days.

Additionally, this EO includes a directive which authorizes the Commissioner of Health to direct COVID-19 testing for all staff or to modify or eliminate visitation or leave for residents at any state, local, or voluntary not-for-profit congregate facility supervised or licensed by the Office of Mental Health (OMH), the Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS), the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS), the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD), or the Department of Health (DOH) on a regular schedule, or as necessary. This directive is in effect through February 26, 2021.

OAG’s Report on Response to COVID-19 in Nursing Homes

The New York State Attorney General (AG), Letitia James, released a report on the preliminary findings of the investigations into select nursing homes throughout the state and their responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Office of the Attorney General investigations are ongoing at more than 20 nursing homes across the state.

Updated Links and Resources

Hinman Straub Resources:

Department of Health:

State Education Department