Governor Encourages New Yorkers to Keep Using the Tools to Protect Against and Treat COVID-19: Vaccines, Boosters, Testing and Treatment
32 Statewide Deaths Reported December 13
Governor Kathy Hochul today updated New Yorkers on the state’s progress combatting COVID-19 and outlined basic steps they can take to protect against the spread of viral respiratory infections that become more common in the fall and winter seasons.
“As we continue the spread of respiratory illnesses, the flu, and COVID-19 throughout our state, I urge all New Yorkers to remain vigilant and continue to use all available tools to keep themselves, their loved ones and their communities safe and healthy,” Governor Hochul said. “Stay up to date on vaccine doses, and test before gatherings or travel this holiday season. 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 Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), the flu and COVID-19 and reduce the patient burden on local hospitals. Last week, the Governor updated New Yorkers on the state’s winter health preparedness efforts.
Last week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and CDC also cleared the way for children six months of age and older to receive the bivalent booster shot to increase protection against COVID-19. Previously, these shots were only available to children ages 5 and older.
The New York State Department of Health issued a report last week showing a 64 percent week-over-week jump in lab-confirmed flu cases across New York and week-over-week hospitalizations up 58 percent. Cases of influenza have now been detected in all 62 counties across the state, highlighting the need for New Yorkers to take steps and precautions that will reduce the risk of severe illness for children and adults.
Governor Hochul previously launched a public awareness campaign featuring New York State Health Commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett speaking directly to New Yorkers about the three viruses now circulating in the state with similar symptoms and the potential to cause serious illness. Produced by the New York State Department of Health, the videos include a short clip and a longer version geared toward parents; and a version aimed specifically at health care providers.
The Governor also asked New Yorkers to get their bivalent COVID-19 vaccine boosters. 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.
In addition, Governor Hochul encourages New Yorkers to get their annual flu vaccine as flu season is widespread across New York State. The flu virus and the virus that causes COVID-19 are both circulating, so getting vaccinated against both is the best way to stay healthy and to avoid added stress to the health care system.
The State Department of Health is continuing its annual public education campaign, reminding adults and parents to get both flu and COVID-19 shots for themselves and children 6 months and older. Advertisements in both English and Spanish language began running last month.
For information about flu vaccine clinics, contact the local health department or visit vaccines.gov/find-vaccines/.
Today’s data is summarized briefly below:
** Due to the test reporting policy change by the federal Department of Health and Human Services and several other factors, the most reliable metric to measure virus impact on a community is the case per 100,000 data — not percent positivity.
The Health Electronic Response Data System is a NYS DOH data source that collects confirmed daily death data as reported by hospitals, nursing homes and adult care facilities only.
Important Note: Effective Monday, April 4, the federal Department of Health and Human Services is no longer requiring testing facilities that use COVID-19 rapid antigen tests to report negative results. As a result, New York State’s percent positive metric will be computed using only lab-reported PCR results. Positive antigen tests will still be reported to New York State and reporting of new daily cases and cases per 100k will continue to include both PCR and antigen tests. Due to this change and other factors, including changes in testing practices, the most reliable metric to measure virus impact on a community is the case per 100,000 data — not percent positivity.
This daily COVID-19 provisional death certificate data reported by NYS DOH and NYC to the CDC includes those who died in any location, including hospitals, nursing homes, adult care facilities, at home, in hospice and other settings.
Each region’s 7-day average of cases per 100K population is as follows:
Region
Sunday, December 11, 2022
Monday, December 12, 2022
Tuesday, December 13, 2022
Capital Region
13.35
13.11
13.44
Central New York
10.98
11.26
10.54
Finger Lakes
11.27
10.76
11.28
Long Island
42.67
42.77
42.75
Mid-Hudson
29.53
29.46
29.42
Mohawk Valley
11.07
10.45
10.30
New York City
33.67
33.74
33.30
North Country
12.55
12.41
12.79
Southern Tier
14.96
14.94
14.65
Western New York
10.08
10.24
11.05
Statewide
27.79
27.79
27.66
Each region’s 7-day average percentage of positive test results reported over the last three days is as follows**:
Region
Sunday, December 11, 2022
Monday, December 12, 2022
Tuesday, December 13, 2022
Capital Region
5.61%
5.54%
5.77%
Central New York
3.88%
3.92%
3.91%
Finger Lakes
4.75%
4.66%
4.88%
Long Island
8.84%
8.93%
8.83%
Mid-Hudson
6.75%
7.22%
6.61%
Mohawk Valley
3.90%
3.95%
3.92%
New York City
6.48%
6.82%
6.52%
North Country
4.67%
4.60%
4.87%
Southern Tier
5.57%
5.48%
5.39%
Western New York
7.60%
7.88%
8.47%
Statewide
6.57%
6.83%
6.61%
** Due to the test reporting policy change by the federal Department of Health and Human Services and several other factors, the most reliable metric to measure virus impact on a community is the case per 100,000 data — not percent positivity.
Each New York City borough’s 7-day average percentage of positive test results reported over the last three days is as follows **:
Borough in NYC
Sunday, December 11, 2022
Monday, December 12, 2022
Tuesday, December 13, 2022
Bronx
7.84%
7.90%
8.00%
Kings
4.56%
5.14%
4.68%
New York
6.86%
6.93%
6.87%
Queens
9.10%
9.09%
8.94%
Richmond
6.42%
6.46%
6.37%
** Due to the test reporting policy change by the federal Department of Health and Human Services and several other factors, the most reliable metric to measure virus impact on a community is the case per 100,000 data — not percent positivity.
Yesterday, 5,924 New Yorkers tested positive for COVID-19 in New York State, bringing the total to 6,355,073. A geographic breakdown is as follows:
County
Total Positive
New Positive
Albany
76,182
50
Allegany
10,479
5
Broome
56,828
38
Cattaraugus
18,742
11
Cayuga
19,791
6
Chautauqua
28,555
9
Chemung
26,049
15
Chenango
11,525
3
Clinton
21,770
14
Columbia
13,241
9
Cortland
12,946
11
Delaware
9,775
6
Dutchess
81,256
75
Erie
261,103
191
Essex
7,393
6
Franklin
11,762
16
Fulton
16,104
12
Genesee
16,158
5
Greene
10,533
7
Hamilton
1,064
–
Herkimer
16,957
2
Jefferson
25,957
18
Lewis
7,145
10
Livingston
13,976
4
Madison
16,362
6
Monroe
186,020
102
Montgomery
14,592
11
Nassau
526,465
615
Niagara
57,946
28
NYC
2,963,878
2,922
Oneida
66,898
30
Onondaga
138,584
48
Ontario
25,256
18
Orange
133,191
143
Orleans
10,216
1
Oswego
33,482
17
Otsego
12,846
7
Putnam
30,265
42
Rensselaer
40,501
21
Rockland
114,142
101
Saratoga
59,616
43
Schenectady
42,269
29
Schoharie
6,375
2
Schuyler
4,248
2
Seneca
7,400
10
St. Lawrence
25,666
10
Steuben
24,709
13
Suffolk
544,241
690
Sullivan
23,547
14
Tioga
13,685
12
Tompkins
25,799
23
Ulster
41,360
40
Warren
18,280
18
Washington
15,258
17
Wayne
21,229
15
Westchester
321,403
346
Wyoming
9,740
3
Yates
4,313
2
The Omicron variant now represents more than 95% of the viruses in circulation. For more information on variant tracking, please visit here: COVID-19 Variant Data | Department of Health (ny.gov).
Yesterday, there were 32 total new deaths were reported due to COVID-19, bringing the total to 59,867. A geographic breakdown is as follows, by county of residence:
County
New Deaths
Bronx
1
Cayuga
1
Delaware
1
Kings
5
Monroe
2
Nassau
3
New York
2
Oneida
1
Onondaga
1
Queens
6
Rockland
1
Suffolk
7
Westchester
1
Grand Total
32
New Yorkers looking to schedule vaccine appointments for 5-11-year-old children are encouraged to contact their child’s pediatrician, family physician, county health departments, Federally Qualified Health Centers, rural health centers, or pharmacies that may be administering the vaccine for this age group. Parents and guardians can visit vaccines.gov, text their ZIP code to 438829, or call 1-800-232-0233 to find nearby locations. Make sure that the provider offers the Pfizer-BioNTechCOVID-19 vaccine, as the other COVID-19 vaccines are not yet authorized for this age group.
Visit our website for parents and guardians for new information, frequently asked questions and answers, and resources specifically designed for parents and guardians of this age group.
This page is available in other languages