August 31, 2021

Below please find two Releases from the Hochul administration.  In the first Release, I used red ink to highlight those brief statements that will be of interest to NYS Council members given our recent discussions regarding vaccine mandates in OMH and OASAS programs and services.  The second Release shares more information regarding Hochul’s nominee to lead the Department of Financial Services (DFS).

In terms of booster vaccines, Hochul has recently emphasized the importance of deferring to health departments in local communities, where the dynamics of distribution needs can be unique, as opposed to imposing more rigid plans.

She also acknowledged that there are elderly, health care workers and front-line workers who may have gotten their shot more than eight months ago and are anxiously awaiting the next, official steps from the state.  Hochul said her administration is awaiting federal approvals before it ramps up booster sites, but plans to focus on making sure local health departments have the infrastructure in place to distribute vaccines effectively. She has also emphasized that her intention is not to micromanage the process, but instead to supply those in charge with the resources they need to get a booster vaccine into the arms of New Yorkers.

It should be noted that there is now an additional meeting (planned for this Thursday) of the state’s Public Health Planning Council, the same body that met last week and approved the DOH plan to implement vaccine mandates in certain DOH regulated settings (hospitals, nursing homes and other long-term settings) by 9/27, and to add D&TC’s, including FQHCs to the list as of October 7. In addition, the Council voted to remove the availability of a religious exemption for those under the mandate.   It will be interesting to see the agenda (not released yet) for the Thursday meeting.

GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCES NEW MEASURES TO COMBAT COVID-19 DELTA VARIANT

Announces Plan for New Statewide Weekly Testing Requirement for Unvaccinated School Staff
 
Decentralizes Booster Shot Distribution to Local Health Departments, Announces $65 Million Available to Local Health Departments to Support These Efforts

State Exploring Vaccine Mandate for All Staff in All State Regulated Facilities

New Measures Build on Governor’s Comprehensive Plan to Help Ensure a Safe, Productive Return to Schools This Fall
 
Follows Universal Mask Requirement in All Schools Enacted on Governor’s First Day in Office and $585 Million School Testing Program Using $585 Million in Federal Funds

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced new measures to combat the COVID-19 Delta variant and updated New Yorkers on the state’s progress combating the virus.

Speaking at the University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine, the Governor announced she will be working with localities, the state health department and the Public Health and Health Planning Council in the days ahead to put in place mandatory weekly COVID-19 testing for unvaccinated public and charter school employees, and to establish a vaccination requirement for all staff at state-regulated facilities and congregate settings. The governor announced $65 million will be available to local health departments across the state to support the quick and reliable distribution of booster shots.

“Last year every community across the state came together in a profound way to say, ‘we can do this’,” Governor Hochul said. “This war is not over and the Delta variant is a serious threat, especially for people who are still unvaccinated. We all need to remain vigilant to protect each other – and that means coming in to get your shot and booster shot, wearing masks in indoor spaces, and exercising basic safety measures that we are all familiar with by now.”

 
Getting children back to school where they can learn most effectively and protecting the students, teachers and staff are top priorities for Governor Hochul. Building on the state department of health’s directive requiring universal masking for anyone entering schools, the governor will be working with localities, the department of health and the Public Health and Health Planning Council in the days ahead to implement a mandatory weekly COVID testing for school staff who are not vaccinated.

Following the department of health’s announcement last week that all staff in health care facilities need to be vaccinated, the state is exploring how to expand this requirement to include staff at all state-regulated facilities.

 
Local health departments will be supporting the distribution of booster shots in New York, enabling them to use their knowledge and workforce to quickly deliver booster shots to their communities. The governor is making $65 million available to local health departments to build the infrastructure for these efforts.

COVID-19 Numbers for New York as of August 30:
• Test Results Reported – 95,579 
• Total Positive – 3,789 
• Percent Positive – 3.96%
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive – 3.35% 
• Patient Hospitalization – 2,234 (+48)
• Patients Newly Admitted – 232
• Patients in ICU – 484 (+16)
• Patients in ICU with Intubation – 247 (+18)
• Total Discharges – 192,839 (+185)
• New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS – 22
• Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS – 43,573
• Total deaths reported to and compiled by the CDC – 55,602

COVID-19 Vaccination Data for New York as of August 31, 11 a.m.:
• Total vaccine doses administered – 23,665,694
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 24 hours – 46,143
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 7 days – 367,128
• Ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose – 77.0%
• Ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series – 69.9%
• Ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) – 79.7%
• Ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series (CDC) – 71.6%
• New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose – 64.9%
• New Yorkers with completed vaccine series – 58.5%
• New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) – 67.3%
• New Yorkers with completed vaccine series (CDC) – 60.0%

COVID-19 Numbers for Western New York as of August 30:
• Test Results Reported – 4,320
• Total Positive – 244
• Percent Positive – 5.6%
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive – 4.11%
• Patient Hospitalization – 135 (+8)
• Patients Newly Admitted – 15 (+1)
• Patients in ICU – 39 (+2)
• Patients in ICU with Intubation – 33 (+1)
• Total Discharges – 9,233 (+6)
• New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS – 2
• Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS – 2,586
• Total deaths reported to and compiled by the CDC – N/A

COVID-19 Vaccination Data for Western New York as of August 29: 
• Total vaccine doses administered – 1,548,815
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 24 hours – 1,636
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 7 days – 15,439
• Ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose – 72.3%
• Ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series – 67.7%
• New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose – 61.3%
• New Yorkers with completed vaccine series – 57.1%

Note that the CDC does not provide Western New York or other region’s numbers for the following fields: ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose; ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series; New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose; New Yorkers with completed vaccine series.————————————————————————

GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCES NOMINATION OF ADRIENNE HARRIS AS SUPERINTENDENT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES

Former Economic Advisor to President Obama to Become New York’s Top Financial Regulator

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that Adrienne Harris has been nominated to lead the New York State Department of Financial Services as its next Superintendent. Formerly a top economic advisor to President Obama, Ms. Harris will become the state’s top financial regulator tasked with overseeing the banking and insurance industries and their compliance with state laws as New York works to rebuild its economy in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, if confirmed by the Senate.

“As I’ve said from the moment I took office, I will be assembling the strongest possible team to help New York move towards a brighter future and with Adrienne Harris as our state’s top financial regulator, New Yorkers can rest assured that this administration isn’t simply focused on just protecting consumers, but on advancing an equitable economic recovery that seeks to lift up all citizens, not just the privileged few,” Governor Hochul said.  “From her time working with President Obama to help the nation forge a path forward in the aftermath of 2007’s Great Recession to her vast experience in the private sector helping ensure companies of all sizes act as good corporate citizens, there is no one better suited to help lead this state’s economy forward and I, for one, cannot wait to get to work with Adrienne to deliver real results for the people of this great state.”

“I am honored and humbled by the privilege to work with Governor Hochul to serve the people of New York,” Adrienne Harris said. “Under her leadership, we will work together to ensure we have a robust and fair financial system, and an equitable economy. New Yorkers deserve no less. I look forward to getting to work.”

Ms. Harris began her career as an Associate at Sullivan and Cromwell LLP in New York City representing a number of U.S. and non-U.S. based corporations in various forms of litigation and regulatory matters, before accepting a position at the United States Department of the Treasury under President Obama. While at the Treasury Department, Ms. Harris served as a Senior Advisor to both Acting Deputy Secretary and Under Secretary for Domestic Finance, Mary Miller, and Deputy Secretary, Sarah Bloom Raskin. As Senior Advisor, Ms. Harris focused on a number of financial policy issue areas which were, and continue to be, critical to the advancement of the national economy. This work ranged from helping jumpstart national financial reform efforts to finding ways to advance fintech, identifying solutions to the student loan crisis, analyzing the nexus between foreign investment and national security, and working to promote financial intelligence and health in communities throughout the country.

Following her time at the Treasury Department, Ms. Harris then joined The White House, where she was appointed as Special Assistant to the President for Economic Policy, as part of the National Economic Council. In this role, Ms. Harris managed the financial services portfolio, which included developing and executing strategies for financial reform and the implementation of Dodd-Frank, while also continuing to advance fintech initiatives, consumer protections for the American public, cybersecurity and housing finance reform priorities.

Since leaving the White House in January 2017, Ms. Harris went on to serve as General Counsel and Chief Business Officer, and presently as Advisor at States Title, Inc. (now DOMA), which provides title insurance and settlement services in a number of state throughout the nation. Ms. Harris also currently serves as a Professor and Faculty Co-Director at the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy’s Center on Finance, Law and Policy at the University of Michigan, as well as a Senior Advisor at the Brunswick Group in Washington D.C. where she advises multinational corporations on mergers and acquisitions, stakeholder communications and management, future-proofing and policy intelligence.

Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney said, “This is a very strong appointment. Adrienne Harris has incredible experience with the Obama Administration, particularly around protecting consumers. I look forward to working with Ms. Harris in my capacity as a Member of the Financial Services Committee.”

Congressman Hakeem Jeffries said, “Adrienne Harris is a dedicated public servant, accomplished policy expert and an outstanding choice to lead the Department of Financial Services. I commend Governor Hochul on this appointment and look forward to working together to protect consumers and foster economic growth.”

Black Economic Alliance Executive Director David G. Clunie said, “With an unparalleled array of impressive experience at the highest levels of government and business, Adrienne Harris is a phenomenal choice to lead DFS. She is no stranger to working hard for the people, and New Yorkers will be well served by this appointment. Governor Hochul has made a smart choice putting her trust in Adrienne to take DFS to new heights.”

Financial Health Network President and CEO Jennifer Tescher said, “In addition to her expertise in government, law, and financial services, Adrienne brings a deep commitment to consumer financial health and well-being, making her uniquely qualified to serve as DFS Superintendent. I am eager to see what she and Governor Hochul accomplish together.”

Ms. Harris graduated from Georgetown University with a Bachelor of Arts degree and subsequently earned her Juris Doctor from Columbia Law School and a Master’s in Business Administration from New York University.

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