GOVERNOR CUOMO CALLS FOR PREBOARDING COVID TESTING ON ALL UK ORIGINATING FLIGHTS INTO NEW YORK. CALLS FEDERAL GOVERNMENT “GROSSLY NEGLIGENT.”

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WPCNR ALBANY ROUNDS. From WHEC-TV ROCHESTER. December 20, 2020:

WHEC-TV Rochester coverage of Governor Andrew Cuomo’s telephone news conference day reports Governor Cuomo wants to travelers on aircraft traveling to the New York area from Great Britain should be covid tested.

Currently the station reports travelers from the UK are not required to take a Covid test before boarding a plane to the US.

Jennifer Lewke of WHEC-TV quoted Governor Cuomo as saying “right now this variant is getting on a plane and coming to JFK.”

“How many times in life do you have to make the same mistake before you learn?” The federal government is being grossly negligent just like the spring. All it takes is one person.

“We have done absolutely nothing.To me, this is reprehensible.”

The variant is spreading rapidly through England and parts of the UK, is supposedly 70% more transmissible.

Dr. Deborah Birx Coronavirus Response Coordinator for the White House Coronavirus Task Force said on News 12 on the 10:30 PM newscast said “I do not believe it (the new strain) is more deadly, or affects the vaccine. ”

At least six European nations — the Netherlands, France, Austria, Belgium, Italy and Germany — have already shut down or are about to stop all U.K. flights.

As many as 120 countries — but not the U.S. — require a negative COVID test for travelers before they leave the U.K. 

Foreign nationals are currently banned from flying into the U.S. if they’ve been in any of several European and other countries in the past 14 days. But American citizens are free to fly back and forth. There are currently six daily flights from the U.K. to New York, Cuomo noted.

Britain this week instituted stiff new coronavirus restrictions for England, with particularly stringent limits in the South-East, East and in London, where households are prohibited from mixing even over Christmas.

The government announced the frightening rates of transmission of the new strain as cases burgeoned in southern and eastern regions of England. The strain was first detected in September, but its rates of transmission were reported last week.

Cuomo said a new virus variant discovered in the U.K. has led to at least 120 countries either banning travelers or requiring they get tested before boarding a plane to NY. Right now the New York Port Authority does not have the jurisdiction to do the tests.

Governor Cuomo used the call to remind reporters on the call that the virus came to the U.S. and the New York area carried by travelers on flights from China and the Pacific in January and on flights from Europe which infected New York City rapidly in the spring.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson revealed plans to shut down some businesses and require people to cancel their Christmas gatherings

The super virus transmission volatility was first reported by The Independent two weeks ago.

$908 Billion in Relief for Struggling Americans, Businesses, Special Interests, from Washington. No Relief for States’ Loss of Revenues. Details Sketchy. STIMULUS PAYMENTS CONTINUE BUT CUT IN HALF. END IN MARCH.

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WPCNR WASHINGTON WIRE. From The Associated Press. December 20, 2020:

The Associated Press reported late Sunday evening that congress agreed to enact a $300 “bonus jobless benefit” per week lasting through March.

There will be new round of 11 weeks of a $600 direct stimulus payment to most Americans and a new round of subsidies for hard-hit businesses and money for schools, health care providers and renters facing eviction, no details provided yet.

There was no relief for states income losses due to coronavirus and economic tax and revenue losses as many governors, including Governor Andrew M. Cuomo have called on Washington and their representatives in congress to deliver for 10 months.

Congressional leaders Senator Charles Schumer and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi said this bill was “just the first step” and the states’ economic needs would be addressed later.

The $300 per week bonus jobless benefit was one half the supplemental federal unemployment benefit provided under the $1.8 billion CARES Act last March and would be limited to 11 weeks instead of 16 weeks.

The additional direct $600 stimulus payment to most people would also be half the previous $1,200 March payment, contingent on lower payments after $75,000 in income

“We put our heads down and worked around the clock for nearly a month to produce a bipartisan, bicameral bill to address the emergency needs of our country,” the bipartisan group of about a dozen lawmakers said in a statement. “Our consensus bill was the foundation of this final package.”

The sustaining of aid to unemployed Americans is part of the Government appropriations bill, scheduled to be voted on Monday in both houses.

There is $284 Billion agreed to for the Paycheck Protection Program,providing more Paycheck Protection Program grants (with no details provided yet) to “hard hit businesses,” as the AP called them. There were also grants for low-income and minority communities, no details.

These “Benies” include $25 billion in rental assistance (no details yet), $15 billion for theaters and other live venues, $82 billion for local schools, colleges and universities, and $10 billion for child care.

The AP said a $1.4 Billion payment was likely to provide a last $1.4 billion payment for the U.S.-Mexico border wall “as a condition of winning President Donald Trump’s approving the Apropriations Bill that funds the U.S. through next September.

There’s more:

  • $10 billion for 46 Army Corps of Engineers flood control, environmental and coastal protection projects.
  • Extension expiring tax breaks for craft brewers wineries and distillersAnother addition would extend a batch of soon-to-expire tax breaks, including one for craft brewers, wineries and distillers.

  • Clean energy provisions
  • $7 billion to increase access to broadband,
  • $4 billion to help other nations vaccinate their people.
  • $14 billion for transit systems, Amtrak and airports.
  • $22 Billion more to help states and localities with COVID-19
  • Relief for persons with sky high medical expenses, which the AP attributed to health care providers drop out of insurance networks.

“We put our heads down and worked around the clock for nearly a month to produce a bipartisan, bicameral bill to address the emergency needs of our country,” the bipartisan group of about a dozen lawmakers said in a statement. “Our consensus bill was the foundation of this final package.”

SATURDAY NEW CORONAVIRUS CASES IN WESTCHESTER REPORTED: 535. TOTAL RISE IN NEW COVID CASES IN 19 DAYS SINCE DEC 1: 22,246, AVERAGING 1,170 NEW WITH COVID A DAY WESTCHESTER INFECTION RATE 6.3%.

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The Saturday Westchester New Cases.
The Friday new cases in Westchester County
The Thursday New Westchester Cases
Mid Hudson region NYC and Long Island in growing spread.

WPCNR CORONA VIRUS REPORT. Compiled from the Workbook NY State Tracker. December 20, 2020:

The number of Westchester persons testing positive for corona virus on Saturday saw the infection rate rise to 6.3% of 8,495 persons tested. A total of 535 Westchester persons were found to be positive, raising the number of persons with Covid to 22,246 –all newly infected in the last 19 days.

With vaccinations of the new Pfizer vaccines starting among medical workers in the last week and a second vaccine due to arrive in the next two days, the vaccination campaign cannot ramp up soon enough.

In the last 7 days the infection rate (number of persons tested found positive with the virus, has averaged just shy of 6% (5.98), and new cases have averaged 586 persons a day since last Sunday (Dec. 13). This average the previous 7 Days (Dec. 5 to Dec. 13) was 579 new tested positive persons a day. The spread of the virus is not slowing.

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CORONA VIRUS NEW CASES IN WESTCHESTER DOUBLES IN DECEMBER IN 18 DAYS FROM 10,526 TO 21,133. FRIDAY THE 18TH TOTAL POSITIVES ADDS 578 MORE : TOTAL AS OF 2 PM: 21,711 COVID INFECTIONS

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The day-by-day growth rate in Corona Virus Positives from December 1 THROUGH DECEMBER 9.
The growth rate in persons testing positive for coronavirus in Westchester County FROM DECEMBER 10 THROUGH December 16. The figures in black show the current new totals in Westchester County after just 6 Days from December 10. The 20,417 grew by 716 Westchester persons testing positive on Thursday to 21,133

WPCNR CORONAVIRUS REPORT. By John F. Bailey, based on statistics from Workbook NY Covid Tracker.

The number of persons testing positive in Westchester County for coronavirus doubles in 17 days from December 1 through December 17 from 10,526 Positives as of December 1st to 21,133 as of 2 PM Thursday December 17 according to the New York coronavirus tracker.

BULLETIN: ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON, THE NEW WESTCHESTER PERSONS TESTING POSITIVE WAS 578 OF 9,478 TESTED. THIS BRINGS THE NEW TOTAL OF WESTCHESTER POSITIVES TO 21,711. THE INFECTION RATE WENT BACK UP TO 6.1%

Since November 21 when infections began rising from the 3.8% infection rate of November 21, the infection rate of persons testing positive has risen to just about 6%. Infections rose to 10,526 with coronavirus as of December 9 , 18 days since November 21 to 6%.

Now 8 days later on November 17, those infections have hit 21,133. The number of persons testing positive each day has hit 588 and rose to 716 on Thursday the 17th, though the infection rate slipped to 5.3%. What that shows, in my observation is the exponential ability of the disease to expand its infections to more people faster every day. A 5% infection rate each day combined with each infected person infecting two other people you are pushing 40,000 in a week.

At this rate, the 21,133 may infect 40,000 (2 other people each) in another week. This is a serious time for the county ability to handle the virus growth potential.

County Executive George Latimer said in his Covid Briefing Thursday, said the county was retiring its covid chart, pending establishing new links with state statistics to show the number of infections in individual towns and municipalities. Currently chart lists new cases, but does not list either infection rates, or growth rates of new infections, two statistics instrumental in showing whether communities need to address more proactive enforcement of masking, gathering, and business establishments and restaurant rules, church attendances.

Mount Vernon Mayor Shaywn Patterson-Howard said Mount Vernon has been successful in preventing Covid spread by enforcement of masking and social distancing and serving restrictions through enforcement and fines for violators without providing details.

The doubling of corona virus identified positive cases in one week since December 9 indicates citizens need to be more careful at the very least in protecting them selves from encountering the corona virus .

GOVERNOR CUOMO HOLIDAY WEEK MESSAGE

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WPCNR GOVERNOR ANDREW M. CUOMO CORONAVIRUS REPORT, DECEMBER 18, 2020:

On this snowy day, I have a simple message that we can all agree with. We want to slow the spread, we want to avoid shutdowns, and together we can do it. We slow the spread by being smart during the holiday season.

It’s a difficult situation and people need to come together. There’s a feeling of safety in your home and there’s a feeling of safety when you’re with your family, but it just takes one person infected who doesn’t know it and living room spread happens. Half of all cases are from people who had no symptoms. So please be careful and stay safe.  

Two people sled in Long Island.

Photo of the Day: Residents take advantage of the snowfall to sled at Mattlin Middle School in Plainview, New York (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) Here’s what else you need to know tonight: 

1. Total COVID hospitalizations rose to 6,147—up 50 from the previous day. Of the 202,772 tests reported yesterday, 10,914, or 5.38 percent, were positive. There were 1,095 patients in the ICU yesterday, down 3 from the previous day. Of them, 611 are intubated. Sadly, we lost 120 New Yorkers to the virus. 

2. The deadline to sign up for a health plan through NY State of Health has been extended. New Yorkers have two more weeks (until December 31) to enroll in a health plan that begins on January 1. “As the pandemic continues, it is especially important for New Yorkers to have access to high-quality, affordable health insurance,” said Donna Frescatore, NY State of Health Executive Director. Visit their website or call 1-855-355-5777 to enroll.

 3. The Finger Lakes, with 736 hospitalizations, remains a region of particular concern. It has the highest rate of COVID hospitalization as a percentage of its population, at 0.06 percent.

Central New York has 386 hospitalizations (0.05 percent of its population);

Western New York has 501 hospitalizations (0.04 percent);

Mohawk Valley has 194 hospitalizations (0.04 percent);

Long Island has 1,025 hospitalizations (0.04 percent);

the Mid-Hudson region has 743 hospitalizations (0.03 percent);

Capital Region has 328 hospitalizations (0.03 percent);

Southern Tier has 170 hospitalizations (0.03 percent);

New York City has 2,005 hospitalizations (0.02 percent).

The North Country, with 59 hospitalizations (0.01 percent), continues to have the lowest rate of hospitalizations due to COVID. 

4. To date, New York has conducted over 22 million COVID tests. If you are experiencing COVID symptoms or believe you may have been exposed to someone who is positive, get tested. Find a testing site near you. You can also call 1-888-364-3065 to schedule a free appointment at a New York State-run testing location. 

Tonight’s “Deep Breath Moment”: A black-and-white stray dog who had become a celebrity in his neighborhood in Tallinn, Estonia, is being honored with a monument. When the mutt, called Zorik, was taken from the Estonian capital to live out his last years in the country, Zorik was so missed that residents decided to erect a statue of him. After raising funds, a local artist was commissioned to build the monument, which is meant to honor not just Zorik, but all strays. This one shaggy mutt’s legacy will live on for many years to come.  If you were forwarded this email, you can subscribe to New York State’s Coronavirus Updates here. Ever Upward, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo

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COUNTY WARNS OF SCAMZINES

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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From the Westchester County Department of Consumer Affairs. December 18, 2020:

The Westchester County Department of Consumer Protection is warning all Westchester residents to be vigilant for Covid-19 vaccine scams as we enter the next phase of the pandemic.

Westchester County Executive George Latimer said: “There are vaccine scams out there. People may solicit you, may sound professional and look for money and information from you to get a vaccine. Don’t fall for it and don’t pay attention to it.”

Consumer Protection Director Jim Maisano said: “If you get a call, text, or email or even someone knocking on door claiming they can get you early access to the vaccine, hang up, delete or close the door — stop all communication immediately. It’s a scam every time.”


Tips for Westchester residents based tricks scammers are using:

– Vaccine is expected to be free.

– There are no sign-up lists for vaccine.

– You can’t pay to get your vaccine earlier.

– Medicare or Social Security won’t be calling you about getting your vaccine (scammers often act like they are calling from government agencies).

– You don’t need to give out SSN, credit card or bank info before you are able to get vaccine.

Maisano added: “Also, beware of scammers or even salespeople offering to sell you unnecessary products, treatments or medicines to prevent the virus – always check with your doctor first.

If you are contacted by someone looking to sell you early access to the vaccine, contact Westchester Consumer Protection at 914-995-2155 or at ConPro@westchestergov.com.

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HUD VALLEY GAINS 8,000 JOBS IN NOV. LOWEST NOVEMBER EMPLOYMENT IN 11 YEARS

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WPCNR WESTCHESTER MONEY From the New York State Department of Labor, White Plains NY. December 17, 2020:

Private sector jobs in the Hudson Valley declined by 73,700 or 9.0 percent, to 749,200 in the 12 months ending November 2020. 

Job losses were centered in leisure and hospitality (-29,700), trade, transportation and utilities (-10,300), professional and business services (-8,700), educational and health services (-8,600), other services (-6,800), manufacturing (-4,000), financial activities (-2,900), and natural resources, mining and construction (-2,400). 

The November 2020 over-the-year job losses continue to reflect the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. 

At 749,200, private sector job count has reached its lowest November level since 2011.  Meanwhile, a gain of 8,000 jobs in November, continues to reflect the reopening of the economy. 

The historical average over-the-month change between October and November is a gain of 2,300. 

Within the region, the Orange-Rockland-Westchester labor market area’s private employment sector declined the fastest year-over-year, down 9.3 percent. 

They were followed by the Dutchess-Putnam MSA (-9.0 percent), Sullivan County (-7.3 percent), and the Kingston MSA (-5.3 percent).   

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FBI ARRESTS 10 IN HOME HEALTH AIDE MEDICAID FRAUD BILLING FOR SERVICES NOT RENDERED, KICKBACKS.

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WPCNR FBI WIRE. From the Federal Bureau of Investigation. (EditedDecember 17, 2020:

Audrey Strauss, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and William F. Sweeney Jr., the Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced today the unsealing of an Indictment charging

MARIANNA LEVIN, TETYANA GOLYAK, ELENA LOKSHIN, SVITLANA ROHULYA, MARINA ZAK, ALINA KUPTSOVA, MALIHA IJAZ, MAKHINBONU NARZULLAEVA, NATALYA SHVARTS, and INNA GEKELMAN with conspiracy to commit mail, wire and healthcare fraud; substantive counts of mail fraud, wire fraud, and healthcare fraud; and conspiracy to violate the Anti-Kickback Statute, in connection with a  scheme to fraudulently bill Medicaid for home-health and personal-care services that were not actually rendered. 

In recent years, home-health costs in New York have ballooned.  In or about January 2020, New York’s State budget director announced, in substance and in part, that spending on MLTCs tripled between the 2013 and 2019 fiscal years, representing a $4.8 billion increase.

The 10 defendants worked for 2 Agencies employing approximately 3,000 home-health and personal-care aides (the “Aides”).  Most of the Aides were licensed to provide home-health aide services and personal-care services.

Manhattan Acting U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said:  “These ten defendants allegedly attempted to swindle the managed healthcare system by billing for no-show cases, where aides provided no actual assistance to patients.  Now more than ever, the Medicare system is critical for so many Americans who depend on its services for their well-being. Conduct such as the alleged scheme today not only beleaguers the healthcare system, it unfairly penalizes those who depend on it most – the patients.”

As alleged in the Indictment unsealed today in Manhattan federal court[1]:

Since in or about 2015, the defendants have been engaged in a widespread fraud scheme through which the defendants defrauded Medicaid for home-health and personal-care services that were not actually rendered. 

At all times relevant to the Indictment, the defendants worked at or were otherwise associated with one of two affiliated licensed homecare service agencies based in Brooklyn, New York (“Agency-1”, “Agency-2”, collectively referred to as the “Agencies”), that provide home-health and personal-care services to patients residing in all five boroughs of New York City and Nassau County. 

Home care is a health service provided in the patient’s home to promote, maintain, or restore health or lessen the effects of illness and disability.  Home care includes personal-care services, administered by Aides, including housekeeping, meal preparation, bathing, toileting, and grooming.

At all times relevant to this Indictment, eligible Medicaid beneficiaries in New York were able to seek government-funded home-health and personal-care services through managed long-term care plans (“MLTCs”).  In turn, MLTCs received Medicaid funding to pay for their beneficiaries’ home-health and personal-care services. 

The Agencies administer home-health and personal-care services to Medicaid beneficiaries enrolled in New York MLTCs.  From in or about 2015 to in or about December 2020, Medicaid reimbursed the Agencies hundreds of millions of dollars for home-health and personal-care services. 

A significant portion of the Agencies’ billings were fraudulent. 

In particular, the Agencies billed Medicaid for “no-show” cases in which Aides claimed to be performing home-health or personal-care services when they were not.  At times when Aides falsely claimed to be performing home-health or personal-care services, they in fact, stayed home, ran personal errands, vacationed, and socialized with family and friends. 

For example, on or about September 9, 2017, TETYANA GOLYAK was at a vineyard and winery in New Jersey at a time she claimed to be performing personal-care services for a patient residing in Brooklyn, New York; in or about January 2019, NATALYA SHVARTS was on a Caribbean cruise at a time she claimed to be performing personal-care services for a patient residing in Brooklyn, New York; and, on or about March 1, 2019, MALIHA IJAZ was at a Brooklyn restaurant at a time IJAZ claimed to be performing personal-care services.  These no-show arrangements caused the Agencies to submit false Medicaid claims to MLTCs. 

With no-show cases at the Agencies, an Aide’s fraudulently-obtained wages were often split between the no-show Aide and the no-show patient.  In addition to paying kickbacks to no-show patients, no-show Aides sometimes paid kickbacks to conspirators who referred no-show cases to Aides at the Agencies.   

The defendants are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit mail, wire, and healthcare fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, one count of mail fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, one count of healthcare fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and one count of conspiracy to violate the Anti-Kickback Statute, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.  The maximum potential sentences and minimum sentence in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencings of the defendants will be determined by the judge.

*                      *                     *

Ms. Strauss praised the outstanding investigative work of the New York FBI, New York City Police Department, and the Office of Medicaid Inspector General for New York State. 

This case is being handled by the Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit.  Assistant United States Attorneys Nicholas Folly, Nicholas W. Chiuchiolo and Daniel G. Nessim are in charge of the prosecution.

The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.       

Aftermath of the Big White: CON EDISON DOES A BETTER JOB OF RESTORING ELECTRIC POWER ACCORDING TO COUNTY EXEC.

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WPCNR WEATHER. December 17, 2020:

At County Executive George Latimer’s Thursday Covid Briefing this afternoon, the County Executive and Deputy County Executive announced Beeline Bus Service had been restored with some changes in schedules especially in the hilly sections of the county like Yonkers. The County Airport was open, subject to carrier delays or cancellations. Metro North was running its normal weekday schedule. The County Executive thanked county and local city and town DPW crews for the efforts through the night dealing with the snowfall.

Deputy County Executive Ken Jenkins reported the highest snowfall was reported in Mt. Kisco and Yorktown Heights at 11 inches. Jenkins also advises residents to keep off the roads to allow crews to make them safe with adequate grooming. Jenkins said temperatures would be below freezing this evening with windchills as low as 15 degrees and advised motorists to dress appropriately.

The County Executive said New York State Gas and Electric reported no outages and that as of this afternoon Con Edison reported 11 outages affecting 397 customers. He said currently the customers affected are in Bedford, Buchanan, Cortlandt, Greenburgh, Mt. Kisco, North Castle Peekskill and Yonkers.

The County Executive said Con Edison effort on “restoration much better ” than the Con Ed response to the hurricane in August.

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