8 HV COVID-19 Deaths; NY Health Care Workers Must Be Vaccinated

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — New York State will mandate that all health care workers must be vaccinated, with a first dose required by Sept. 27, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Monday, a week before his resignation becomes official.

The policy covers health care workers, including staff at hospitals and long-term care facilities such as nursing homes, adult care, and other congregate care settings. The State Department of Health will issue the rule, which will have limited exceptions for those with religious or medical reasons.

As of Monday, 75 percent of the state's 450,000 hospital workers, 74 percent of the state's 30,000 adult care facility workers, and 68 percent of the state's 145,500 nursing home workers have been fully vaccinated, Cuomo said.

"Our healthcare heroes led the battle against the virus, and now we need them to lead the battle between the variant and the vaccine," Cuomo said Monday.

Health care worker vaccination rates in the Hudson Valley

Percentage of hospital workers with completed vaccination series:

Percentage of population and staff vaccinated at skilled nursing facilities:

Percentage of population and staff vaccinated at adult care facilities:

Here's where to find COVID-19 vaccination details for Nursing Homes as reported by New York facilities. Find COVID-19 vaccination details for Assisted Living Facilities as reported by the facilities.

Lt. Governor Kathy Hochul's administration was briefed prior to the announcement. Hochul will replace Cuomo next week in what both have said they hope is a seamless transition.

The need for vaccinations is critical, Cuomo said: Daily positives are up more than 1,000 percent over the past six weeks, with more than 80 percent of those new positives linked to the delta variant.

Hudson Valley positivity rates, deaths

In the Hudson Valley, the 7-day average coronavirus test positivity rate was 3.16 percent as of Sunday, barely above the statewide average of 3.09 percent, state health officials reported.

As of Sunday, the county-by-county positivity rates were:

• Dutchess: 3.7 percent
• Orange: 5.4
• Putnam: 4.2
• Rockland: 5.0
• Ulster: 3.0
• Westchester: 4.1

Growth in positivity rates locally barely changed from Aug. 8, as reported by the state.

• Dutchess: 3.6 percent
• Orange: 5.5
• Putnam: 4.2
• Rockland: 5.0
• Sullivan: 4.6
• Ulster: 3.0
• Westchester: 4.1

In the past three days five people in Dutchess, and one each in Orange, Putnam and Westchester counties died from COVID-19, according to state data. Fatalities in the Hudson Valley accounted for one-fifth of all COVID-19 deaths in New York: Statewide, there were 13 deaths Friday, 16 reported Saturday and 11 deaths Sunday.

Immunocompromised people can receive a third dose

Cuomo also announced Monday that the Department of Health has authorized a third COVID-19 vaccine dose for New Yorkers with compromised immune systems, following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's recommendation last week. Eligible New Yorkers can receive their third dose 28 days after the completion of their two-dose vaccine series, effective immediately.

The CDC is currently recommending that moderately to severely immunocompromised people receive an additional dose, including people who have:

• Been receiving active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood
• Received an organ transplant and are taking medications to suppress the immune system
• Received a stem cell transplant within the last two years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
• Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency, such as DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome
• Advanced or untreated HIV infection;
• Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids, cancer chemotherapy that causes severe immunosuppression, or other medications that may suppress immune response.

New York State Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker added: "This mandate will both help close the vaccination gap and reduce the spread of the Delta variant."

The health care worker mandate follows one made Aug. 2 covering MTA and Port Authority employees working in New York facilities. They will be required to be vaccinated for COVID-19 by Labor Day or be tested weekly.

SEE: Coronavirus Transmission Risk Hits "High" In Most Of The HV: CDC

Patch editor Lisa Finn contributed to this report.