This story was reported by Rachelle Blidner, Robert Brodsky, Matthew Chayes, Bart Jones, David Reich-Hale and Nicholas Spangler. It was written by Jones.
A second case of the South African variant of COVID-19 has been confirmed in Nassau County, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said Tuesday, though overall positivity levels in tests for the virus continued to decline statewide.
Health officials also confirmed 18 new cases of the U.K. variant statewide, bringing the total to 154, he said. The state had reported Long Island's first case of the South African variant on Sunday, with Nassau County confirming that an individual living in Glen Head had contracted it.
Health agencies have been tracking the emergence of variants to study how contagious they are and consider the effectiveness of existing vaccines. While some experts believe that variants seem to spread more rapidly than the dominant COVID-19 strain, more research is needed to determine whether they are more deadly or less responsive to the vaccines.
The seven-day average for positivity in test results statewide was 3.46%, continuing a steady drop, while the daily positivity rate from 157,333 test results on Monday was 4.23%. The seven-day level on Long Island was 4.3%, while New York City registered 4.49%.
"The decline in our hospitalization and infection rates is all thanks to the dedication New Yorkers have time and again shown to defeating this invisible enemy," Cuomo said.
The number of new confirmed positives from test results Monday was 640 in Nassau County, 554 in Suffolk County, and 3,532 in New York City.
Cuomo released the latest figures a day after making moves to facilitate further reopening of economic activity, including partially allowing the partial return of movie theaters in New York City, expanding the number of people allowed at indoor weddings and catering halls, and relaxing criteria to allow visits at nursing homes under certain conditions.
"As our rates continue to decline, we are opening back up our economy and proving that vaccine distribution can be fair and equitable," Cuomo said. "The light at the end of the tunnel is brighter and brighter each day, but we're not there yet. I encourage New Yorkers to remain vigilant until the war is won: Wear a mask, socially distance and wash your hands."
State officials said New York has received about 80% of its scheduled allocation of vaccine for the week of Feb. 15 to Feb. 21, or the 10th week of distribution to the state.
The state received a total of 285,150 first doses and 211,900 second dose, for a total of 497,050. The state total of all doses so far is 3,868,075.
A total of 89% of the doses for the most recent week were administered on Long Island and the state as a whole.
A hurdle for nursing homes
One day after the state released new visitation guidelines for nursing homes, executives said the new rules won't help them open their doors to visitors.
The sticking point: Nursing homes must be free of COVID-19 cases for 14 days to qualify — and that's been a hurdle many Long Island facilities have struggled to clear.
For example, Commack-based Gurwin Jewish Nursing & Rehabilitation Center has yet to reach the 14-day milestone. It tests its 800 employees twice per week, and its 350 residents weekly. It would take 1,950 negative tests without a positive result to be cleared for visits.
"From a simple math perspective, and we know how insidious this disease is, it's been a great challenge," said Stuart Almer, CEO of Gurwin Healthcare System, which operates the nursing home. "The new mandate just doesn't apply to us and many other nursing homes because the 14-day rule overshadows everything else."
Bellone: Virus surge 'a month behind us'
In Suffolk, the county’s seven-day average infection rate is 4.3%, down from 7.8% a month ago, Bellone said. He said 451 people are hospitalized in the county with COVID-19, down from 652 two weeks ago.
Those declines illustrate that "the holiday surge that brought our COVID numbers up to levels not seen since the height of the pandemic is now a month behind us," he said.
County health commissioner Gregson Pigott said he is "grateful to see the second surge abating … I am pretty encouraged by what we’re seeing."
About 12% of Suffolk residents have received at least one vaccine dose, state data shows, and herd immunity won’t be reached until about 70% is fully vaccinated, Pigott said,
The county has the capacity to administer 50,000 doses a week but does not have the supply to do so, Bellone said. Once supply increases, Bellone said he hopes to partner with more local sites to expand where residents can get doses in the 118-mile-long county.
The county has had to prioritize vaccination efforts to focus on essential employees under a state order, Bellone said, but he anticipates improvements in vaccine availability.
"The supply’s picked up week to week, but it hasn't gone up significantly. Hopefully that's going to change in the next few weeks and then we can see a broadening out of who's getting the vaccine," he said.
Getting the vaccine in Valley Stream
A state-run pop-up vaccination site at the Gateway World Christian Center in Valley Stream vaccinated about 250 community members Tuesday. Lines stretched out the door throughout the morning with residents, including members of the local NAACP, anxious to receive their first dose of the Pfizer vaccine.
"I hope this encourages people of my community to go out and get the vaccination," said Doris Hicks, president of the NAACP Lakeview branch shortly after receiving her first dose. "Lakeview is a small community and I hope when they see this, they’ll say ‘let me do the same thing.’"
NAACP State Conference Education Chair Christine Waters, who was also vaccinated Tuesday, stressed the need to follow science.
"This vaccination can save your life. So please everyone do your homework and get the information for yourself so we can get back to the new normal."
State officials said one-day pop-up sites are critical to bringing the vaccine to communities of color that have been particularly hard-hit by COVID-19. Members of minority communities have also expressed some reluctance to taking the vaccine.
"The way that we are going to be able to convince more and more people that this is right approach is by bringing it closer and closer to the community," said Tracey Edwards, Long Island regional director for the NAACP. "It’s great to have all the larger centers but anytime that we can have this be at the community level the better."
Assemb. Michaelle Solages (D-Valley Stream) said the virus has devastated Elmont, Valley Stream and the surrounding neighborhoods.
"We know that disproportionately communities of color and low-income communities were greatly impacted," she said.
Karim Camara, executive director and deputy commissioner of the state Office of Faith-Based Community Development Services, said vaccinations are happening "based on need. Not based on ZIP code or political connections. Not based on wealth but the individuals whose health is most compromised are in line to get the vaccination first."
Northport VA offering vaccines for veterans
The Northport Veterans Affairs Medical Center will hold its second walk-in vaccine clinic Saturday from 7:30 a.m. until supplies run out, said Chad Cooper, a spokesman for the Medical Center.
The clinic is open to veterans over 65 who have received treatment at Northport or one of its operating clinics within the last two years. No appointments are needed and staff will schedule a second dose at the time of the visit.
Northport receives its vaccine from a central Veterans Affairs office and schedules the clinics when supplies allow, Cooper said. At the first walk-in clinic, held Feb. 13, staffers dispensed 700 shots, he said.
Northport staffers have reached more than 6,000 veterans to offer vaccine appointments, Cooper said; 65% of veterans have accepted. More than 77% of Northport staffers have been vaccinated, he said. The Medical Center is at 79 Middleville Road in Northport.
NYC planning for next vaccine
Meanwhile, Dr. Dave Chokshi, the New York City health commissioner, said the city is making plans, with visiting nurses and traveling clinicians, to distribute the Johnson & Johnson vaccine to those who can’t travel in person to seek the shots. Chokshi said it is aiming to begin doing so next month, even though the vaccine has not yet been authorized for emergency use.
"We will be ready to very rapidly do the door-to-door, or in-home, vaccination for homebound seniors," he said. The city is awaiting submissions to federal regulators by the company, he said.
The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is not expected to require the same cold storage as the two currently approved ones, by Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech.
So far, 1.547 million vaccine doses have been administered in New York City, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Tuesday. His goal is 5 million New Yorkers vaccinated — not just 5 million doses — by June.
GETTING COVID-19 VACCINES
Who qualifies for COVID-19 shots?
New York State expanded the list of qualifying residents to encompass people 65 years of age and older as well as others with underlying conditions that put them at higher risk. The state had previously expanded its vaccination program to include essential workers and people 75 years of age and older in addition to health care workers and nursing home residents and staff, among others. The supply of vaccines is limited even as more groups are added. Hospitals will continue to prioritize unvaccinated members of the first phase, focusing largely on health care workers. The following are the qualifying categories, as revised on Feb. 9.
Group in Phase 1A
The state said about 2.1 million state residents belong in this group, including:
- Health care workers at hospitals who interact with patients.
- Residents and staff at nursing homes and assisted living facilities.
- Dentists, psychologists and others deemed health care workers with direct contact with patients.
- Employees of Federally Qualified Health Centers.
- EMT volunteers and staff.
- Coroners, medical examiners, some funeral workers.
- Staff and residents of state facilities for people with developmental disabilities, mental health care and addiction services.
- Employees at urgent care centers.
- Individuals administering COVID-19 vaccines, including local health department staff.
- Staff at ambulatory centers.
- Home care and hospice workers.
- Residents and staff at other congregate care facilities.
Group in Phase 1B
The state estimated about 3.2 million residents belong in this group, including:
- People 75 years of age and older.
- Teachers and education workers, including in-person college instructors, substitute teachers, student teachers, school administrators, paraprofessional staff, support staff, contractors in schools and bus drivers.
- First responders, including police; firefighters; state police; sheriff’s offices; county, town and village police departments, and other law enforcement offices.
- Public safety workers, including dispatchers and technicians.
- Public transit workers, including airport, railroad, subway, bus, ferry and Port Authority employees.
- Corrections officers.
- Other sworn and civilian personnel, such as court and peace officers.
- Grocery store workers dealing with the public.
- Individuals living in homeless shelters.
Following federal recommendations:
Added at the discretion of local governments:
- Taxi drivers.
- Restaurant workers.
- Residents of facilities for developmentally disabled people.
SOURCE: New York State, Northwell Health.
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