Legislative District 14 Update:
Dear Resident,
This week, the Legislative Majority received another briefing from Nassau County Health Commissioner, Dr. Larry Eisenstein, concerning the COVID-19 situation and I would like to share some of the key items that were discussed.
In Nassau County, the most recent numbers from Wednesday reported 1,600 new daily cases, which represents a significant drop from the 5,000 figure that was recorded about two weeks ago. Among hospitalizations, there are currently 1,084 patients being treated in the 10 Nassau County hospitals. However, out of this number, 472 were admitted for non-COVID reasons so the real figure was 612 COVID patients. That represents about half the number of patients from the peak that was reported about two weeks ago and way below the peak of about 2,600 patients back in the Spring of 2020. Among those hospitalized, 120 patients are in the ICU and 85 are on ventilators. These numbers continue to be dramatically lower than during our peak period in 2020. Out of the 85 patients on ventilators, 64 of them are not vaccinated and none of them are fully boosted.
Recent data shows that among those individuals who are both vaccinated and boosted there is a 78% chance that they will not contract COVID-19. Furthermore, of those individuals who are vaccinated and boosted who do contract COVID, the symptoms are much milder than those experienced with the original and Delta variants.
With almost the entire adult population in Nassau County vaccinated, Dr. Eisenstein expects the downward trend of positive cases to continue in a slow and steady decline over the next 3 to 4 weeks. In some areas of the state and in other parts of the country where the vaccination rates are lower, the Omicron variant has not yet peaked and some hospitals are struggling with the number of patients needing treatment.
While guidance from the CDC and NYS continues to evolve, New York State issued a useful chart that explains the current quarantine and isolation protocols being followed. You can access that information HERE.
In addition, the federal government has set up a US Post Office site to request free at-home COVID-19 test kits. Residential households can order up to 4 free at-home tests and only one order is allowed per household. You can request your free kits at this link: https://special.usps.com/testkits
I will continue to keep you updated on important matters related to this pandemic as information becomes available.
As always, please feel free to contact me with any thoughts and ideas you may have with respect to the County or on any particular issue that you think I may be able to assist you with. You may contact me at (516) 571-6214 or by email at LSchaefer@NassauCountyNY.gov .
Sincerely,
Laura M. Schaefer
Legislator, District 14