WATCH LIVE: Gov. Hochul updates New Yorkers on COVID-19 pandemic
Editor's note: This press conference will be live streamed on this page at 2:15 p.m. EDT.
NEW YORK CITY (WROC) — Gov. Kathy Hochul hosted a coronavirus briefing Wednesday afternoon to update New Yorkers on the state's ongoing pandemic response efforts.
Each region's seven-day average positivity rate, according to the governor, is as follows:
- Capital Region — 3.58%
- Central New York — 4.28%
- Finger Lakes — 4.38%
- Long Island — 2.13%
- Mid-Hudson — 1.85%
- Mohawk Valley — 4.01%
- New York City — 0.98%
- North Country — 4.80%
- Southern Tier — 3.07%
- Western New York — 4.83%
- Statewide — 2.11%
"We're making good progress," Gov. Hochul said. "I am pleased with these numbers, particularly as we head through the fall season when our vulnerabilities are there."
According to the governor, the state's vaccination progress is as follows:
- 27,199,492 total doses administered
- 61,303 total doses administered over past 24 hours
- 86.8% of New Yorkers 18 and older with at least one dose
- 78.2% of New Yorkers 18 and older fully vaccinated
- 69.5% of New Yorkers 12-17 with at least one dose
- 60.9% of New Yorkers 12-17 fully vaccinated
"Shooting for 90%," Gov. Hochul said. "We're at 86.8%, but if you got one dose, don't forget the second one. You're not fully inoculated until you get the other dose. Our numbers with the young people are going up and we're making progress."
The governor said she was relieved to see the FDA advisory panel voted Tuesday to recommend emergency use authorization of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for kids ages 5 to 11. She said New York is already preparing to make sure there are enough doses for kids in that age group.
"The next step is for the CDC to meet and give guidance from there, but it's imminent," Gov. Hochul said. "It is extremely exciting. We will have 380,000 doses of pediatric vaccines ready, and this is just the first order. We will have enough for everyone. The chains of pharmacies will get additional vaccines from federal resources and 350 school districts have already said they will be holding vaccination events."
Regarding breakthrough cases, the governor reported the numbers were up slightly, but added they still represent a very small number of cases and COVID-19 hospitalizations in New York state. According to the governor, breakthrough cases accounted for 1% of all statewide cases over the past week, and just 0.07% of all statewide hospitalizations, up from the week prior of 0.9% and 0.06%, respectively.
The governor said the booster program is going well statewide, as she reported 787,000 booster shots administered throughout New York so far. She herself received her booster shot last week.
"I had a J&J booster, had no symptoms and went through the whole day without missing a beat," Gov. Hochul said.
Check back with News 8 WROC as we will continue to update this developing story.