Governor Kathy Hochul said on Saturday that week-over-week COVID cases in New York plunged a whopping 47% in the state.
by David Stone
The Roosevelt Island Daily News
“We are turning the corner on the winter surge, but we’re not through this yet,” Governor Hochul said. “Please keep getting vaccinated, getting the booster dose, getting our children vaccinated, and wearing non-cloth masks. Let’s not undo all the hard work we’ve put in to bring the numbers down.”

The governor signalled something else worth noting, specifying non-cloth masks. In general, that means KN95, N95 and surgical masks. And the Biden administration had good news in that direction. Beginning Wednesday, January 19th, all Americans can order free at-home test kits through the federal government. The ordering site is already up and ready to go.
On Roosevelt Island…
Increased activism locally by elected officials started with a vaccine clinic hosted by State Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright on Thursday. Friday, City Council Member Julie Menin’s team handed out free KN95 masks at the Roosevelt Island Food Pantry.
The state registered under 48,000 cases on Friday. That’s a lot, but it hit 90,000, one week earlier.
The downturn echoes results seen elsewhere after the Omicron variant spiked COVID cases. In New York City alone, reported cases fell from a 7-day running average or 438 cases to 357 in just two days, between Wednesday and Friday.
Statewide, the positivity rate is 14.62%, as of Friday. That brought the 7-day running average down to 17.59% with New York City at 16.44%.
While New York is not out of the danger zone yet, current results find us speeding in that direction.
More from the Roosevelt Island Daily
- Public Safety and Community Support in Queens and Roosevelt IslandExplore public safety and community support in Queens and Roosevelt Island, from emergency responses to local business stories and neighborhood resilience.
- Queens News and Community Updates Affecting Roosevelt Island ResidentsFor Roosevelt Island residents, Queens news and community updates are both close and relevant. From local incidents to new openings and street safety, see how city events shape our days.
- How Roosevelt Island Reflects New York’s Big Moments This WeekThis week, see how Roosevelt Island reflects New York’s big moments, from citywide sports wins and parades to local voting and youth programs.
- How Roosevelt Island Reflects a City on the MoveDiscover how Roosevelt Island reflects a city on the move, capturing the currents of New York through neighborhood routines, sports celebrations, and community moments.
- Keeping Steady Through City Currents: How Roosevelt Island Residents Stay ConnectedNew York’s shifting news often impacts daily routines on the island. Discover how Roosevelt Island residents stay connected through city changes and local events.
Air Doesn’t Have an Address
The Roosevelt Island Steam Plant fight has reached a new stage: DOB has agreed to a site walkthrough, ArchRI says it is bringing independent engineers and architects, and four elected officials have formally asked RIOC to create a Community Advisory Group (CAG) for the project.











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