Daily Briefing – 261

Post: Mar. 11, 2021

COVID Update

Governor Cuomo issued a press release yesterday morning providing an overview of New York’s COVID-19 tracking data from Wednesday March 10th.

Hospitalization tracking data for the Mid-Hudson region and the rest of the State are below.

Hospitalizations

Patients Currently in Hospital statewide: 4,735
Hospitalizations Mid-Hudson Region: 451

ICU Beds In Use (All Uses)

Occupied ICU Beds Statewide: 4,168
Occupied ICU Beds Mid-Hudson Region: 405

Other Data

Statewide Positivity Rate: 3.11%
Mid-Hudson Positivity Rate: 4.34%

Useful Websites:

Quarantine for Domestic Travel Will No Longer Be Required Starting April 1st

Governor Cuomo announced yesterday that domestic travelers will no longer be required to quarantine after entering New York from another U.S. State or U.S. Territory starting April 1st. While no longer required, the NYS Department of Health still recommends quarantine after domestic travel as an added precaution. Mandatory quarantine remains in effect for international travelers. All travelers must continue to fill out the Traveler Health Form. Individuals should continue strict adherence to all safety guidelines to stop the spread – wearing masks, socially distancing and avoiding gatherings.

Read the press release

NYS Vaccine Update – More Than 20% of New Yorkers Have at Least One Dose

As of 11 am Thursday 4,073,412 (plus 101,312 from yesterday) New Yorkers have received at least one vaccine dose and 2,191,058 are fully vaccinated (Plus 122,086). In the Hudson Valley 385,958 (plus 11,300) have at least one dose and 199,241 (plus 20,2931 ) are fully vaccinated.

US Vaccination Rollout – US To Buy Another 100 Million J&J Doses

As of March 10, nearly one-tenth (9.9%) of the U.S. adult population, a total of 32.9 million people, had been fully vaccinated according to CDC data. 62.5 million individuals, or 18.8% of U.S. adults had received at least one dose of a vaccine, up from 52.9 million a week ago. When it comes to the nation’s at-risk senior population, 61.2% of people 65 and older have so far received at least one dose.

In total, 127.9 million doses of the three available vaccine have been distributed across the country; 95.7 million of those doses or 74.8% have been administered. While the vast majority of fully-vaccinated individuals received either the two-dose Moderna or Pfizer vaccine (32.4 million people), roughly of 458,000 vaccine recipients have gotten the newly authorized J&J shot. On Wednesday afternoon, President Joe Biden announced plans to purchase another 100 million doses of the J&J vaccine.

Visit the Fortune Vaccine Tracker

Assembly Speaker OK’s Committee Impeachment Investigation into Cuomo Allegations

The speaker of the state Assembly authorized the judiciary committee to begin an impeachment investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct and dozens of Democratic New York state lawmakers called for Cuomo to resign. State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie made the decision after meeting with the Assembly Majority Conference, a meeting he announced earlier Thursday.

The committee led by Democratic Assemblyman Charles Lavine is authorized to subpoena documents, interview witnesses and evaluate evidence, the statement says. Heastie said he has the “outmost faith” that Lavine and the committee will conduct an “expeditious” investigation. In a statement, New York Attorney General Letitia James said the Assembly’s action will have “no bearing” on her investigation.

New York Passes Bill Giving Employees Paid Time Off to Get Vaccinated

New York has just passed a bill requiring employers to provide employees with “a sufficient period of time”, up to a maximum of four hours of paid leave per shot, to obtain COVID-19 vaccines. If an employee gets a vaccine that consists of two separate shots (like the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine), employees will be eligible for up to four hours of paid time off for each injection. Employees would be paid at their regular rates of pay for up to the four hours to get vaccinated.

While the bill has not yet been signed by Governor Cuomo, he is expected to sign it shortly and it will take effect immediately upon his signature. The law would expire December 31, 2022, so if it is signed it will remain in effect until the end of next year.

NAM Webinar: Vaccine Presentation with CDC

On Tuesday, March 16 at 11:00 am EST please join the NAM for their second webinar in the “This is Our Shot” series. Dr. Margaret Kitt, MPH, MD, Deputy Director at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), will discuss COVID-19 vaccines. Dr. Kitt, a Rear Admiral (Retired) in the United States Public Health Service, is currently the Team Lead for the Essential Workers Team as part of the Vaccine Implementation Unit within the CDC COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force. She will offer expert insights into the science and rollout of these lifesaving defenses.

As our nation approaches 100 million vaccines administered, this presentation will be important for all members of the manufacturing community.

CEOs Are Optimistic About the Economy

A PwC survey of 5,000 CEOs around the world, out fresh this morning, finds they are more optimistic about the economy than they’ve been since the company started asking the question nine years ago. 76% of them predict economic growth will improve in 2021, compared to 22% last year (pre-pandemic) and 42% in 2019.

Optimism is particularly strong in the U.S., where 86% foresee growth. Moreover, the U.S. was selected as the top market for growth by 35% of the CEOs, widening its lead over China, chosen by 28%. Last year, the U.S. was only one percentage point ahead of China.

Read the report at PWC

ECB Plans to Ramp up Bond Buying

The ECB opted on Thursday to leave its Pandemic Emergency Purchase Program, or PEPP, unchanged, at a total of 1.85 trillion euros ($2.21 trillion) due to last until March 2022. However, the central bank’s bond purchases in the first quarter have been lower than usual and the Frankfurt-based institution said it expected to ramp up its purchases going forward.

Bond yields in the euro zone have been rising since February, following their United States counterparts higher after President Joe Biden announced a massive fiscal stimulus plan. It has led to fears that rising yields could derail the economic recovery in Europe by raising borrowing costs for countries already struggling with the coronavirus crisis.

Employers Need to Address Women’s Mental Health

Last year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that almost 41% of adults in the United States were struggling with mental health challenges and fallen prey to drug and alcohol abuse. Women especially have faced significant mental health challenges arising from the pandemic and lockdowns.

We have learned that physical and emotional abuse are not the only threats to women’s mental health, and the impact of isolation and the burdens of extra responsibilities at home appear to be driving many women out of the workforce, perhaps permanently, and this could limit the ability of businesses to recover fully.

New Unemployment Claims Reach 4 Month Low – Still Elevated

U.S. states saw new jobless claims fall more than expected to reach a four-month low last week, as impending spring weather and more vaccine-driven business reopenings allow hiring to pick up. Continuing claims, which count the total number of Americans still receiving state unemployment benefits, also fell for for an eighth straight week last week, reaching the lowest level in nearly one year.

Initial jobless claims, week ended March 6: 712,000 vs. 725,000 expected and a revised 754,000 during the prior week
Continuing claims, week ended February 27: 4.144 million vs. 4.200 million expected and a revised 4.337 million during the prior week

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