By Tangerine Clarke
New York Governor, Kathy
Hochul has announced that her
office has ordered an additional
12 million COVID tests this
week, bringing the total tests
ordered to 49 million. “On top of
our 1,800+ testing sites, starting
next week, four additional
MTA testing sites will open, and
20 total SUNY campuses will
offer testing,” she said, imploring
people to find a testing sight
them.
As of Jan. 8, 2022, 11,747 New
Yorkers are hospitalized with
COVID-19. Our seven-day percentage
positivity average
is 21.71%, which is up from
21.49% last week. There were
379.43 cases per 100K statewide,
according to a release from Gov.
Hochul’s office.
According to the CDC as of
the same date, 95.0% of adult
New Yorkers have received at
least one vaccine dose. So far,
34,384,727 total vaccine doses
have been administered, and
86,927 doses have been administered
over the past 24 hours.
In a Happy New Year message,
Gov. Hochul said “It has
been a busy week. On Wednesday,
I delivered my first State of
the State address, where I laid
out my vision for our comeback
from COVID and for using this
opportunity to unlock a whole
New Era for New York. Learn
more about that vision.”
“We continue to fight the
winter surge and closely monitor
hospitalizations. Over 95%
of New Yorkers have at least one
vaccine dose, and booster rates
continue to climb — people are
using the tools known to prevent
severe illness, and that’s
great news! However, only 31%
of children ages 5-11 are partly
vaccinated. Parents and guardians:
Please get your children
vaccinated, said the statement,
she encouraged.
“As part of our Winter Surge
Plan, we continue to make vaccines,
boosters, testing, and
masks more widely available —
and are working to support hospitals
and keep schools open.
Let’s dive in,” she said.
Caribbean L 16 ife, JANUARY 14-20, 2022
“Last week, we delivered 6.18
million tests to schools, including
more than three million to
New York City schools. Public
and charter schools have the
tests to implement Test to Stay
next week, and more tests are
on the way.”
According to the politician,
health care workers are required
to take the booster, adding,
“We’ve seen facilities stressed
because some are unvaccinated,
and others are vaccinated
but not boosted. That’s why I
announced a plan for a first-inthe
nation booster requirement
for health care workers. More is
coming on this soon.”
Additionally, she said the
protection of nursing home
residents, is paramount. “I
understand how important it
is to stay connected with loved
ones in nursing homes. That’s
why I announced new requirements
to keep visitors and residents
safe. Starting Wednesday,
visitors must wear “surgical”-
type masks and have a negative
COVID test within 24 hours of
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul delivers her fi rst State of the
State address in the Assembly Chamber at the state Capitol,
Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022, in Albany, N.Y. Associated Press /
Hans Pennink, Pool, File
visiting.”
The politician noted that,
new guidance recommends
booster doses for all New Yorkers
ages 12 and older. The guidance,
following action by the
CDC, recommends that people,
including the newly authorized
12–15-year-old age, group, who
received the Pfizer-BioNTech
vaccine should receive a booster
dose at least five months after
their second dose; the previous
recommended interval was at
least six months. In addition,
moderately to immunocompromised
5-11-years can receive an
additional primary dose of the
Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine 28 days
after their second dose.”
Gov. Hochul orders 12 M
tests to combat Omicron
1st Session Trial Offer expires 3/31/2022
718.339.6885