Nicole Epstein, with Gotham Public Relations, sends in a quick recap of Governor Cuomo's COVID-19 briefings. Here are her notes from Governor Cuomo’s conference call:

COVID:

  • Day 359
  • Statewide Positivity rate: 4.3%
  • 142,000 Test results reported
  • 89 deaths
  • 5,800 Hospitalizations
  • 1,100 ICU patients
  • 700 Intubations

Positivity by Region:

  • Bronx: 5.7%
  • Brooklyn 4.3%
  • Capital Region: 1.9%
  • Central NY: 1.2%
  • Finger Lakes: 2.3%
  • Long Island: 4.3%
  • Manhattan: 2.7%
  • Mid-Hudson: 3.2%
  • Mohawk Valley: 2.03%
  • North Country: 3.7%
  • NYC: 4.4%
  • Queens: 4.9%
  • Southern Tier: .79%
  • Southern Tier: 0.79%
  • Staten Island: 4.3%
  • Western NY: 3.2%

Vaccinations:

  • 3.75 million vaccines administered
  • 93% doses received allocated
  • Governor said supplies delayed by weather should arrive this week
  • Governor said he was at Medgar Evers College today and that the state is being very aggressive in vaccinations focused on social equity
  • Governor said the state is working on combating vaccine hesitancy and distrust
  • Governor said the site opens on Wednesday and surrounding zip-codes have priority for appointments

Re-openings:

  • Movie theaters will reopen at 25% capacity
  • Weddings and catered events will reopen at 50% capacity beginning March 15th
  • Billiards and pool hall re-openings are upcoming with 50% capacity
  • Governor said it is a national priority to reopen schools
  • Governor is asking localities to report on how many teachers have been vaccinated starting Wednesday to guide reopening plans

Nursing Home Visitation:

  • For counties with a positivity rate of less than 5% testing for visitors will be encouraged but not required
  • For counties with positivity rate 5%-10% testing for visitors is required within 72 hours
  • For counties with positivity rates greater than 10% no visitation is allowed
  • No visitation will be allowed if there have been COVID cases in the nursing home within the last 14 days
  • Nursing home visitation guidelines go into effect Feb. 26th

Economic:

  • Governor said there has been a decision in the ongoing trial with Seneca Nation that affirmed the need for the Seneca nation to pay the $435 million it owes to the state
  • Governor said the economy is continuing to rebound and revenue is up $1.6 billion

Federal:

  • Governor said NYS needs $15 billion to deal with COVID costs from federal government
  • Governor said federal package does includes only about $12 billion
  • Governor urges a national tax increase on the wealthiest Americans to provide the relief necessary to states
  • Governor urged the federal government to undo SALT

Q&A:

On ineffective vaccines at Jones Beach
  • 81 people in one day received ineffective vaccines at Jones Beach and have since been contacted to schedule appointments to be re-vaccinated

On when Movie Theaters will open:
  • Movies will open statewide March 5th with no testing requirement

On the Governor's message to providers who are not asking for medical paperwork from immunocompromised people signing up for vaccinations
  • Discretion is left to local governments to establish paperwork requirements
  • The state is monitoring to make sure requirements are being followed

On the rise in hate attacks against the Asian community
  • Governor said these acts are wrong, illegal, and will be prosecuted

On what information the Governor is hoping to gain from new school data
  • Governor said reopening the schools is a priority
  • Governor said that in order to reopen, need a status update on vaccinations of teachers

On whether recent amusement park guidelines are also guiding the state fair reopening this year
  • Governor said that if there is any way to safely reopen the fair safely the state will

On whether or not members of the Governor's office have been subpoenaed in investigations into the State's response to COVID
  • Governor said there has been an inquiry going on since last August and the office has been complying and continues to comply

On whether movie theater employees are eligible for the vaccine
  • At this time they would not qualify for vaccines
  • Governor said there is still a vaccine supply issue