Governor Encourages New Yorkers to Keep Using the Tools to Protect Against and Treat COVID-19: Vaccines, Boosters, Testing and Treatment

Governor Kathy Hochul today updated New Yorkers on the state's progress combating COVID-19 and outlined basic steps they can take to protect against the spread of viral respiratory infections.  

"Despite the warmer weather ahead, New Yorkers must continue to be vigilant and use all available tools to keep themselves, their loved ones and their communities safe and healthy this spring," Governor Hochul said. "Get boosted and stay up to date on vaccine doses, be sure to test before gatherings or travel and if you test positive, talk to your doctor about potential treatment options."

Governor Hochul is urging New Yorkers to take common prevention measures — like staying up to date on vaccines and practicing proper hygiene — to protect from COVID-19. The Governor also continues to urge New Yorkers to get their bivalent COVID-19 vaccine boosters, which target both the original virus strain and circulating variants.

To schedule an appointment for a booster, New Yorkers should contact their local pharmacy, county health department, or healthcare provider; visit vaccines.gov; text their ZIP code to 438829, or call 1-800-232-0233 to find nearby locations.   

The New York State Department of Health is continuing its 12-week COVID-19 campaign on television, social media and streaming services to encourage New Yorkers with underlying medical conditions to recognize the importance of getting and staying up-to-date with the recommended bivalent booster to avoid serious illness or death. These conditions including being 65 or older, pregnant, obese, diabetic, or suffering from heart or lung disease, or having a weakened immune system.  

Ahead of the federal government's planned expiration for the COVID-19 public health emergency on May 11, New York State's COVID-19/vaccine news release will be issued weekly until further notice. The latest COVID-19 and vaccine data will continue to be available 24/7 on the New York State Department of Health's online tracker.

Additionally, the state Department of Health is assessing changes to COVID data collection and reporting in collaboration with local health departments and health care providers, to alleviate the burden on providers and leverage other data sources to maintain its ability to monitor the state of the disease and health care delivery system capacity. The agency remains committed to responding to the COVID-19 threat and continues to encourage New Yorkers to use the tools to protect against and treat COVID-19: Vaccines, boosters, testing and treatment.

The weekly COVID-19 data is summarized below:

    7-Day Average Cases Per 100k - 2.99
    Total Positive Cases Over Last 7 Days - 4,096
    Test Results Reported Over Last 7 Days - 197,836
    Total Positives to Date - 6,666,281
    7- Day Average Patient Hospitalization - 883
    7- Day Average Patients Newly Admitted - 117
    7-Day Average Patients in ICU - 105
    7-Day Average Patients in ICU with Intubation - 46
    New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS over last 7 days - 63
    Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 62,343

The Health Electronic Response Data System is a New York State Department of Health data source that collects confirmed data as reported by hospitals, nursing homes and adult care facilities only.

    Total deaths reported to and compiled by the CDC - 79,363      

This daily COVID-19 provisional death certificate data reported by the Department of Health and New York City to the CDC includes those who died in any location, including hospitals, nursing homes, adult care facilities, at home, in hospice and other settings.  

    Total vaccine doses administered - 43,964,717
    Total vaccine doses administered over past 7 days - 16,209
    Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed primary vaccine series - 85.5%
    Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed primary vaccine series (CDC) - 90.8%
    Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older who are up to date - 16.5%
    Percent of New Yorkers ages 12-17 with completed primary vaccine series - 74.7%
    Percent of New Yorkers ages 12-17 with completed primary vaccine series (CDC) - 76.4%   
    Percent of New Yorkers ages 12-17 who are up to date - 6.7%   
    Percent of New Yorkers ages 5-11 with completed primary vaccine series - 40.2%  
    Percent of New Yorkers ages 5-11 with completed primary vaccine series (CDC) - 41.1%   
    Percent of New Yorkers ages 5-11 who are up to date - 4.1%  
    Percent of New Yorkers ages 0-4 with completed primary vaccine series - 8.1%  
    Percent of New Yorkers ages 0-4 who are up to date - 8.1%  
    Percent of all New Yorkers with completed primary vaccine series - 76.5%  
    Percent of all New Yorkers with completed primary vaccine series (CDC) - 81.0%  
    Percent of all New Yorkers who are up to date - 14.3%

Click Here To Read Full Article