State releases new focus metrics

NEW YORK STATE--Gov. Andrew Cuomo last week announced new metrics by which micro-cluster focus zones will be determined to help control COVID-19 spread and protect hospital capacity. Additionally, new directives to further grow hospital capacity, as well as updated calibrations to business guidelines based on recent CDC guidance, advice of public health experts, and data from the state's contact tracing program was detailed. Under these guidelines, indoor dining in New York City was suspended and gyms and salons will now be allowed to remain open with restrictions in Orange Zones.
"We invested very heavily in doing COVID testing, and we do more testing than any state in the nation," Cuomo said. "That gives us actual facts that we can base our actions upon. This is not high science we're applying here--these are common-sense rules. Where the virus is highest, you have to take action."
The updated metrics continue to focus on limiting viral spread in communities with the highest rates of case growth and hospital admissions, and factor in a region's hospital capacity.
Under these updated metrics, micro-cluster zones will now be determined as follows:
Red Zone
A red zone will be implemented in a region where hospital capacity is within 21 days of reaching 90 percent, even after the cancellation of elective procedures and a 50 percent increase in bed capacity in hospitals in the region.
Orange Zone
A geographic area will be eligible to enter an Orange Zone if it has a 4 percent positivity rate (7-day average) over the last 10 days and it is located in a region that has reached 85 percent hospital capacity. Alternatively, a geographic area may also become an Orange Zone if the State Department of Health determines the area or region's rate of hospital admissions is unacceptably high and a zone designation is appropriate to control the rate of growth.
Yellow Zone
A geographic area will be eligible to enter a Yellow Zone if it has a 3 percent positivity rate (7-day average) over the past 10 days and is in the top 10 percent in the state for hospital admissions per capita over the past week and is experiencing week-over-week growth in daily admissions.
The New York State Department of Health is issuing a directive for hospitals to take steps to remain below 85 percent capacity by either adding an additional 25 percent of capacity, eliminating elective surgeries, or by taking a combination of both steps.
During the presentation on Friday, Dec. 11, Cuomo detailed the top activities causing the spread of the virus. Topping the list were household/social gatherings at nearly 74 percent. This data was compiled by statewide contract tracing data from September to November. Next was healthcare delivery at nearly 8 percent, higher education student-2 percent and education employee at 1.5 percent. Restaurants and bars were shown in the number five position with 1.4 percent.
However, beginning Monday, Dec. 14, indoor dining was suspended in New York City. This suspension will continue to be re-evaluated based on updated data over the coming weeks. The governor also extended the state's moratorium on commercial evictions as a response to the updated rules.
Gyms and personal care services were originally thought to be higher risk environments for viral transmission, but the latest data shows the rate of spread in these businesses is very low. These businesses that are within orange zones in the state may now operate with additional service restrictions, effective Monday, Dec. 14.
Specifically, gyms and fitness centers -- which are currently closed in orange zones -- will be allowed to operate at 25 percent capacity, reduced from 33 percent. Personal care services -- for example, salons and barbershops which are also currently closed in orange zones -- will be allowed to provide services so long as the employees performing services are tested for COVID-19 on a weekly basis, and obtain a negative test result prior to opening.