Molinaro Provides COVID-19 Updates during Latest Virtual Town Hall Forum Poughkeepsie.

January 8, 2021 | by

DutchessDelivery
PLEASE NOTE the corrected positivity rate, below.

Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro today hosted his most recent online Town Hall Forum regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, providing residents updates about the County’s response, vaccine distribution and other topics, while answering their questions.

County Executive Molinaro has hosted more than 50 such virtual discussions since March 2020, and an archive of all such forums, including today’s conversation, is available on the County’s YouTube page.

Among the highlights of today’s discussion:

County Executive Molinaro updated residents on the most current data available on the Dutchess County COVID-19 Community Impact Dashboard:

* 376,903 tests completed to date
* 13,190 confirmed cases to date
* 1,517 current active cases 
* 156 current hospitalizations
* 252 deaths to date  
* 11,421 recovered to date
* 8.26% Dutchess County 7-day rolling average positivity rate, as reported by the New York State Department of Health

The County’s Department of Behavioral & Community Health (DBCH) held its first point of  distribution (POD) of the COVID-19 vaccine on Tuesday, January 6th to “vaccinate the vaccinators”  including Dutchess County DBCH employees and Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) volunteers who will be working at the upcoming PODs, in accordance with New York State’s priority group eligibility.

Next week, as vaccine is received from New York State, Dutchess County DBCH will begin operating two POD locations – one in western Dutchess County and one in eastern Dutchess County –  to vaccinate those currently eligible under the NYS guidelines.  Dates, times and locations will be announced soon. Additionally, the County is partnering with Nuvance Health for an additional POD location at Northern Dutchess Hospital in Rhinebeck. These POD locations will be part of the network of vaccination location options in addition to hospitals and other health centers that will continue to expand as more vaccine becomes availability and additional priority groups become eligible for vaccinations.

New York State has established priority groups for COVID-19 vaccinations. Priority groups in Phase 1a  who are currently eligible to receive the vaccine include:
* High-risk hospital workers (emergency room workers, ICU staff and Pulmonary Department staff)
* Residents and staff at nursing homes and other congregate care facilities
* Federally Qualified Health Center employees
* EMS workers Coroners, medical examiners and certain funeral workers * Staff and residents at OPWDD, OMH and OASAS facilities
* Urgent Care providers
* Individuals administering COVID-19 vaccines, including local health department staff
* All Outpatient/Ambulatory front-line, high-risk health care workers of any age who provide direct in-person patient care
* All staff who are in direct contact with patients (i.e., intake staff) All front-line, high-risk public health workers who have direct contact with patients, including those conducting COVID-19 tests, handling COVID-19 specimens and COVID-19 vaccinations
* This includes, but is not limited to:
Doctors who work in private medical practices and their staff
Doctors who work in hospital-affiliated medical practices and their staff
Doctors who work in public health clinics and their staff
Registered Nurses
Specialty medical practices of all types
Dentists and Orthodontists and their staff
Psychiatrists and Psychologists and their staff
Physical Therapists and their staff
Optometrists and their staff
Pharmacists and Pharmacy Aides
Home care workers
Hospice workers
Staff of nursing homes/skilled nursing facilities who did not receive COVID vaccination through the Pharmacy Partnership for Long-Term Care Program

The next phase, 1b, will include the groups below. The State has not yet authorized a specific date for these groups to begin receiving the vaccine.  
Teachers and education workers
First responders
Public safety workers
Public transit workers
People age 75 and older

More information about vaccine distribution, including links to New York State’s “Am I Eligible?” online tool is available at dutchessny.gov/COVIDvaccine.

County Executive Molinaro also reminded residents who test positive for COVID-19 to follow the proper protocols and immediately isolate when notified of a positive COVID test result as well as notify any close contacts so they can quarantine. Those who test positive may not receive a phone call from a contact tracer immediately, due to strains on the overwhelmed case investigation system. Those who test positive will begin receiving a text message from DBCH staff which will include a link to important information and resources regarding isolation/quarantine requirements.

County Executive Molinaro will host his next online town hall forum on Wednesday, Jan. 13th at 3 p.m. and can be viewed on the Dutchess County

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NYS Coronavirus Update: Letter to Department of Homeland Security

January 7, 2021 | by

I know that many New Yorkers are eager for information on the vaccine’s distribution. In fact my mother, Matilda, keeps asking me when she can get vaccinated. Much of the timeline depends on how quickly the federal government can distribute supplies to states, and we expect the supply to increase over time.  

Currently, we are in Phase 1A—which includes residents and staff of nursing homes and other congregate care facilities as well as doctors, nurses, and all health care workers that come into contact with the public, including individuals administering the COVID vaccine. After we vaccinate our heroic health care workers, we move into Phase 1B, which will include teachers and education workers, first responders (police, firefighters), public safety workers, public transit workers, and people 75-and-older. If you’re unsure whether or not you’re currently eligible, you
can check here: ny.gov/vaccine. 
 
Here’s what else you need to know tonight:  
1. Total hospitalizations rose to 8,665. Of the 197,816 tests reported yesterday, 16,648, or 8.41 percent, were positive. There were 1,408 patients in ICU yesterday, up 16 from the previous day. Of them, 877 are intubated. Sadly, we lost 161 New Yorkers.   
2. We need the federal government to take action on international flights to prevent the spread of COVID variants. I sent a letter to U.S. Department of Homeland Security Acting Secretary Chad Wolf asking him to require that airline travelers to the United States receive a negative COVID-19 test result before being allowed into the country. Between 70,000 and 80,000 international passengers arrive at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City each week. Read the letter here.    3. The Finger Lakes, with 934 hospitalizations, has the highest rate of COVID hospitalizations by population. Hospitalizations in the Finger Lakes represent 0.08 percent of the region’s population. Western New York has 540 hospitalizations (0.04 percent of its population); Central New York has 403 hospitalizations (0.05 percent); Mohawk Valley has 306 hospitalizations (0.06 percent); Long Island has 1,614 hospitalizations (0.06 percent); the Mid-Hudson Region has 984 hospitalizations (0.04 percent); the Capital Region has 472 hospitalizations (0.04 percent); the Southern Tier has 220 hospitalizations (0.03 percent); and New York City has 3,107 hospitalizations (0.04 percent). The North Country, with 85 hospitalizations (0.02 percent), has the lowest rate of hospitalizations due to COVID.   
4. The vaccination rate at NY hospitals has increased dramatically. Over the past three weeks, hospitals were administering 10,809 vaccine doses per day (on average), but this week the rate increased to 31,157 doses per day. We want to see this number go up even more.   

Tonight’s “Deep Breath Moment”: Last month, New York was hit with a snowstorm that dropped large quantities of snow across the state and left behind significant debris and felled branches. After the storm, father-son duo Craig and Lincoln Marshall of Glen Cove, New York, found that the Welwyn Preserve was hit especially hard by the storm, and many of the trails and paths were blocked by trees. Together, the two grabbed a chainsaw, endured the cold and cleared out the pedestrian and bike paths of the natural public reserve so residents could quickly enjoy the wildlife and scenery—a great example of civic-mindedness!   

Ever Upward,  
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo  




Molinaro Provides COVID-19 Updates during Latest Virtual Town Hall Forum

| by

DutchessDelivery

Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro yesterday hosted his most recent online Town Hall Forum regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, providing residents updates about the County’s response, vaccine distribution and other topics, while answering their questions.

County Executive Molinaro has hosted more than 50 such virtual discussions since March 2020, and an archive of all such forums, including today’s conversation, is available on the County’s YouTube page.

Among the highlights of today’s discussion:

  • County Executive Molinaro updated residents on the most current data available on the Dutchess County COVID-19 Community Impact Dashboard:
    • 376,903 tests completed to date
    • 13,190 confirmed cases to date
    • 1,517 current active cases 
    • 156 current hospitalizations
    • 252 deaths to date  
    • 11,421 recovered to date
    • 26%Dutchess County 7-day rolling average positivity rate, as reported by the New York State Department of Health
  • The County’s Department of Behavioral & Community Health (DBCH) held its first point of  distribution (POD) of the COVID-19 vaccine on Tuesday, January 6th to “vaccinate the vaccinators”  including Dutchess County DBCH employees and Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) volunteers who will be working at the upcoming PODs, in accordance with New York State’s priority group eligibility.
  • Next week, as vaccine is received from New York State, Dutchess County DBCH will begin operating two POD locations – one in western Dutchess County  and one in eastern Dutchess County –  to vaccinate those currently eligible under the NYS guidelines.  Dates, times and locations will be announced soon. Additionally, the County is partnering with Nuvance Health for an additional POD location at Northern Dutchess Hospital in Rhinebeck. These POD locations will be part of the network of vaccination location options in addition to hospitals and other health centers that will continue to expand as more vaccine becomes availability and additional priority groups become eligible for vaccinations.
  • New York State has established priority groups for COVID-19 vaccinations. Priority groups in Phase 1a  who are currently eligible to receive the vaccine include:
    • High-risk hospital workers (emergency room workers, ICU staff and Pulmonary Department staff)
    • Residents and staff at nursing homes and other congregate care facilities
    • Federally Qualified Health Center employees
    • EMS workers
    • Coroners, medical examiners and certain funeral workers
    • Staff and residents at OPWDD, OMH and OASAS facilities
    • Urgent Care providers
    • Individuals administering COVID-19 vaccines, including local health department staff
    • All Outpatient/Ambulatory front-line, high-risk health care workers of any age who provide direct in-person patient care
    • All staff who are in direct contact with patients (i.e., intake staff)
    • All front-line, high-risk public health workers who have direct contact with patients, including those conducting COVID-19 tests, handling COVID-19 specimens and COVID-19 vaccinations
    • This includes, but is not limited to:
      • Doctors who work in private medical practices and their staff
      • Doctors who work in hospital-affiliated medical practices and their staff
      • Doctors who work in public health clinics and their staff
      • Registered Nurses
      • Specialty medical practices of all types
      • Dentists and Orthodontists and their staff
      • Psychiatrists and Psychologists and their staff
      • Physical Therapists and their staff
      • Optometrists and their staff
      • Pharmacists and Pharmacy Aides
      • Home care workers
      • Hospice workers
    • Staff of nursing homes/skilled nursing facilities who did not receive COVID vaccination through the Pharmacy Partnership for Long-Term Care Program
  • The next phase, 1b, will include the groups below. The State has not yet authorized a specific date for these groups to begin receiving the vaccine.  
    • Teachers and education workers
    • First responders
    • Public safety workers
    • Public transit workers
    • People age 75 and older
  • More information about vaccine distribution, including links to New York State’s “Am I Eligible?” online tool is available at dutchessny.gov/COVIDvaccine.
  • County Executive Molinaro also reminded residents who test positive for COVID-19 to follow the proper protocols and immediately isolate when notified of a positive COVID test result as well as notify any close contacts so they can quarantine. Those who test positive may not receive a phone call from a contact tracer immediately, due to strains on the overwhelmed case investigation system. Those who test positive will begin receiving a text message from DBCH staff which will include a link to important information and resources regarding isolation/quarantine requirements.

County Executive Molinaro will host his next online town hall forum on Wednesday, Jan. 13th at 3 p.m. and can be viewed on the Dutchess County Government Facebook page. As with previous virtual forums, American Sign Language interpreters will translate the live conversation.

NYS Coronavirus Update: Vaccine Provider Sites — Phase 1B

January 6, 2021 | by


In New York we are working hard to distribute vaccines to eligible groups as fairly and expeditiously as possible. Planning is well under way in preparation for widespread vaccination as more groups become eligible.
 
We are working with the public and private sectors across the state to develop a “retail network” of vaccination provider sites.    Similar to operations for the annual distribution of the flu vaccine and like with our ongoing COVID-19 testing, these sites will help ensure access to the vaccine in multiple locations in each of the state’s 10 regions. The network of sites will include pharmacies, federally-qualified health centers, local health departments, private urgent care clinics, private doctor networks, and other sites capable of vaccinations. More sites continue to be added to the network every day.   In addition to hospitals and the “retail network,” the State will undertake special efforts to supplement these sites with pop-up locations, including at the Javits Center, SUNY and CUNY locations, community centers, and houses of worship—with a special emphasis on reaching underserved communities.
   

Vaccine FAQ of the Day: The COVID vaccine is safe and effective and will not give you the virus. Learn more about the vaccine at ny.gov/vaccine.  

Here’s what else you need to know tonight:  

1. So far, we have enrolled 3,762 vaccination provider sites in the state. Of these sites enrolled to administer the COVID-19 vaccine, the State has so far activated 636 sites to begin vaccine distribution. By the end of this week, the State will have distributed 911,000 first doses of the vaccine. Providers can learn more here.   
2. Essential workers and older New Yorkers are next up to receive the vaccine. Once New York has completed administering the vaccine to health care workers as part of Phase 1A, the next step is Phase 1B, which comprises essential workers and New Yorkers aged 75 and up. Roughly 2.5 million New Yorkers make up this group.  
3. To prepare for the next phase of vaccine distribution, we encourage essential worker groups to operationalize their medical teams to administer the vaccine. To help alleviate reliance on the hospital system and protect our hospital capacity, we’re encouraging essential worker organizations such as police departments, fire departments, educators, and public transit organizations to begin developing plans to vaccinate their workforce.  
4. Total hospitalizations rose to 8,590. Of the 152,402 tests reported yesterday, 12,666, or 8.31 percent, were positive. There were 1,392 patients in ICU yesterday, up 35 from the previous day. Of them, 851 are intubated. Sadly, we lost 149 New Yorkers to the virus.   
5. To date, New York has conducted over 26 million tests. If you are experiencing COVID symptoms or believe you may have been exposed to someone positive for COVID, get tested. Find a testing site near you. You can also call 1-888-364-3065 to make a free appointment at a New York State-run testing location.  

Tonight’s “Deep Breath Moment”: Four high schoolers at Alexandria Central in Alexandria Bay, New York, have come together to form an all-girl barbershop quartet called the AcousChix. The group, comprising two freshmen and two juniors of the school, represented New York at Barbershop Harmony Society’s national competition in Jacksonville, FL last year and will participate this year virtually in the same competition. For this year’s submission, the AcousChix put together a video performance singing “Happy Together” by The Turtles.   

Ever Upward,  

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo  

COVID-19 Update from Health Commissioner Dr. Anil Vaidian

January 5, 2021 | by

DutchessDelivery


In his latest briefing, Dr. Anil Vaidian, Commissioner of the Dutchess County Department of Behavioral & Community Health, discusses local distribution of the two available COVID-19 vaccines, as well as the current timeline for residents to become vaccinated.

DutchessDelivery
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New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo Holds Briefing

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News briefing from Monday 1/4/2021

FREE GROCERIES ARE COMING TO BEACON THIS WEEK 1/6/2021 … Please review the information below and share with your friends and family

January 4, 2021 | by

Governor Cuomo delivers Virtual Remarks on January 3rd 2021 … please review for your information.

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Governor Cuomo Delivers Virtual Remarks at Abyssinian Baptist Church

This is Beacon Mayor Lee Kyriacou with a brief message for the end of 2020.

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COVID Counts:  There are 1,451 active COVID cases in Dutchess County, of which 68 are here in Beacon.  For context, Beacon’s count is half of our peak back in the Spring, while the county total is closer to its Spring peak, but fortunately now declining.  I believe that means that, as a community, Beacon is doing a relatively better job at keeping everyone safe – and especially so given that we attract a lot of weekend and holiday visitors.

We’re near the close of yearend holidays.  Please, don’t let up – practice safe social distancing and mask wearing; keep New Year’s gatherings small or virtual.  Thank you all for your individual efforts, and especially those front-line workers and volunteers who help those in need. End of 2020; a Better 2021:  2020 has been a tough year for all on multiple fronts.  But recall it started as a positive year, until the pandemic began to wreak havoc.  I fully expect 2021 to be the opposite of 2020 – we’ll start with tough times, but things will improve, and well before yearend.  Vaccines and consistent messaging from our leadership will beat back the pandemic.  Hopefully, economic stimulus will be enough to help all in need and turn the economy around.  And change in public safety and other policies will accelerate our country’s journey to – as our Constitution says – “form a more perfect union.”  I grieve for those who have lost jobs, livelihoods and loved ones, but I remain optimistic for the future.

Thank you. 

Stay safe.  Swiftreach Networks, Inc.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FROM FROM NYS GOV. ANDREW CUOMO … Please review and share with your friends and family.

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December 31, 2020.

There will certainly be new challenges in 2021 and New York will meet them head on. I want to take this moment to extend my heartfelt thanks to each and every New Yorker who did their part to get us through this traumatic and unprecedented year. We showed the entire world the meaning of New York Tough. I send my warmest wishes to all for a happy and healthy New Year. Celebrate smart. 

PROGRAMMING NOTE: The Coronavirus newsletter will not publish on Friday, January 1st. We will resume on Monday, January 4th. 

Photo of the Day: The New Year’s Eve ball in Times Square going through one final test before the official drop tonight—which will have no live audience this year (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images)

Here’s what else you need to know tonight:

1. Total hospitalizations rose to 7,935. Of the 216,587 tests reported yesterday, 16,802, or 7.76 percent, were positive. There were 1,276 patients in ICU yesterday, up 26 from the previous day. Of them, 723 are intubated. Sadly, we lost 136 New Yorkers to the virus.

2. The moratorium on commercial evictions is extended to May 1, 2021. I signed an Executive Order extending the moratorium on commercial evictions to May 1, 2021. This measure extends protections already in place for commercial tenants and mortgagors in recognition of the financial toll the pandemic has taken on business owners, including retail establishments and restaurants. 

3. A minimum wage increase goes into effect today. As part of the NY 2016-17 budget, I signed legislation enacting a statewide $15 minimum wage plan that will lift the earnings of more than 2.1 million New Yorkers in all industries across the state. The minimum wage rose today from $13 to $14 for Long Island and Westchester, and from $11.80 to $12.50 for the rest of New York State. The NYC minimum wage reached the target of $15/hr a year ago today. 

4. Death benefits to families of frontline government workers are extended for 30 days. This extends a measure signed in May providing death benefits to the families of frontline workers who lost their lives fighting the COVID-19 pandemic in New York. They were there for us when we most needed it. 

5. The completed 750-mile Empire State Trail is now fully open. The trail, which is now the nation’s longest multi-use state trail, provides a safe and scenic pathway for New Yorkers and tourists to experience New York State’s varied landscapes. The entirety of the Empire State Trail runs from New York City through the Hudson and Champlain Valleys to Canada, and from Albany to Buffalo along the Erie Canal. 

6. New Yorkers can use accrued paid sick leave starting tomorrow. Under NY’s Paid Sick Leave law, paid sick leave is secured for workers at medium and large businesses and paid or unpaid leave for those at small businesses, depending on the employer’s net income. New Yorkers can use guaranteed sick leave to recover from an illness themselves, care for a sick family member and more. Learn more about Paid Sick Leave here. 

Tonight’s “Deep Breath Moment”: Earlier in December, the Syracuse Hancock International Airport, which was renovated in 2018, received an unusual, but adorable delivery: puppies! This delivery was the first-ever done by air by Syracuse nonprofit Helping Hounds Dog Rescue, and the puppies arrived safely at the airport to get ready for adoption. “We thought it was a nice way to wrap up 2020,” the airport posted on Facebook. 

If you were forwarded this email, you can subscribe to New York State’s Coronavirus Updates here.

Ever Upward,

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo

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