Governor Andrew M. Cuomo NYS Coronavirus Update: New Rapid Testing Sites -- Expansion of Rent Relief Program & Westchester Executive George Latimer Hosts ‘Ribbons of Remembrance’ Ceremony & Covid-19 Map - December 3, 2020

December 3, 2020.
 
Hospitalizations due to COVID continue to increase throughout the State. The total number of hospital beds in NY is about 53,000—currently 35,000 of those beds are occupied by patients, about 4,000 of whom are COVID patients. For context, at the height of the pandemic in the spring, we had about 19,000 people hospitalized with COVID.
 
The next stage of the battle with COVID is going to be vaccine distribution and vaccine acceptance. The vaccine is the light at the end of the tunnel. We just have to get there, and we have to get there with as little loss of life as possible. We must do our best to keep the virus from spreading any further. Wear a mask, avoid gatherings (both indoor AND outdoor), social distance and wash your hands.
 
nychart123
Photo of the Day: During my briefing today I showed an example of the vaccine packaging once it's ready for distribution (Photo by Mike Groll)
 
Here's what else you need to know tonight:
 
1. The statewide positivity rate ticked up to 4.84 percent yesterday. There were 9,855 positive cases from 203,440 tests reported yesterday. The positivity rate in the micro-cluster focus areas was 5.91 percent. Excluding these areas, it was 4.49 percent.
 
2. Total hospitalizations rose to 4,063. There were 783 patients in ICU yesterday, up 41 from the previous day. Of them, 377 are intubated. Sadly, we lost 61 New Yorkers to the virus. 
 
3. The State is launching 150 new rapid testing sites in partnership with Prescryptive Health. The partnership will help expand testing capacity in areas across the State where testing access is limited. Residents can find participating sites, schedule a test, receive results and follow-up with licenses clinicians directly from their mobile device. All testing sites will be searchable on the State's COVID test website and appointments for these sites will also be available at www.prescryptive.com.
 
4. I will sign an Executive Order expanding eligibility for New York State's COVID Rent Relief Program and reopening the application window. This Executive Order will expand the program's eligibility so more rent relief can be provided to New Yorkers and additional details will be available in the coming days. 
 
Tonight's "Deep Breath Moment": Celebrity Chef David Chang, owner of the Momofuku restaurant group, became the first celebrity to win $1 million on "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?". The prize money will be donated to the Southern Smoke Foundation, an emergency relief fund for restaurant industry workers impacted by the pandemic. 
 
If you were forwarded this email, you can subscribe to New York State's Coronavirus Updates here.
 
Ever Upward,
 
 
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo
 

MAP: Active/Total Westchester County Covid-19 Cases as of 12/03
Active and Total Westchester County COVID-19 Cases in Each Municipality Can Be Found HERE: https://www.westchestergov.com/covid-19-cases
 
County Executive George Latimer Hosts ‘Ribbons of Remembrance’ Ceremony
County’s Memorial to Those Lost to Covid-19 Will be Moved Indoors to County Office Building
Watch full ceremony here: https://youtu.be/-_fSiMoSj5o
 
In May, County Executive George Latimer unveiled a new memorial - Ribbons of Remembrance - dedicated to Westchester County residents who we have lost to COVID-19.
Today, Latimer hosted a ceremony to honor those we have lost and to move the memorial indoors to the Main Floor of County Office Building located on 148 Martine Avenue in White Plains for the winter.
Latimer said: “Westchester County residents are a resilient people, but we are still reeling from the toll COVID-19 has taken on our neighbors. This memorial serves as a reminder of all we have lost as we all must continue to move forward through this pandemic.”
The memorial, overlooking the Hudson River at Lenoir Nature Preserve in Yonkers, consists of trees and a rope structure where visitors took ribbons to write the name of someone they have lost. The ribbons were then tied to the rope structure for all to see and reflect upon. While the memorial will no longer be housed outdoors, members of the public are still free to add names in its new location.
Deputy County Executive Ken Jenkins said: “We are here today to honor all of the individuals we lost in Westchester – keeping in mind all of those who have not have the chance for proper reflection and mourning. This is a tribute to all that we have lost.”
Board of Legislators Chairman Ben Boykin said: “For anyone who hung a ribbon here, or others that are grieving, there is a whole that will remain forever. We must remember and we must commit ourselves to always remember.”
Senior Pastor at the Mount Vernon Heights Congregational Church Reverend Troy Decohen said: “We pray in the memory of those that have transitioned to another life, and transitioned alone, without the comfort and touch of their loved ones. We pray for their peace and we pray for their families that grieve.”
Imam Qari Amjad Karmi of the Westchester Muslim Center said: “We seek to honor these members of our community whom we have lost - and to remember their lives. They are beloved family members, friends and fellow Americans.”
Rabbi Evan Hoffman of Anshe Shalom of New Rochelle said: “When my community was first hit with Covid-19 earlier this year, I quarantined for 14 days with my family and children. When I came out, I held my first Covid funeral. Instead of there being 100 people there, it was just me and the funeral workers. We pray for a return to normalcy – for the day to come where we can go out without trepidation. But until that day comes, let us take the necessary precautions and remember those that we have lost.”
Commissioner of Westchester County Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation Kathy O’Connor said: “When this idea was developed, we were honored when it was decided to host the memorial at Lenoir. I thank our conservation division for their efforts in preparing this space.”
The ceremony consisted of interfaith prayers, remarks from Latimer and other dignitaries and a solemn solo rendition of “Amazing Grace” by the Pipes & Drums of the Police Emerald Society of Westchester.
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