POLITICO New York Playbook PM: Covid rates are dropping — what about mandates?

Presented by Healthcare Education Project: Your afternoon must-read briefing informing the daily conversation among knowledgeable New Yorkers

Feb 15, 2022 View in browser   By Joseph Spector and Anna Gronewold Presented by Healthcare Education Project COVID MANDATES UNDER FIRE AS RATES DROP: New York's Covid-19 rates continue to drop to lows not seen in months, fueling a renewed push to lift mandates, particularly from Republicans. New York is retaining a mask mandate in schools and child care centers until at least early March; New York City still has a vaccine requirement for restaurants and entertainment venues; and a number of restrictions, including mask wearing, remain at nursing homes and other health-care facilities. When she announced the lifting of an indoor mask mandate last week, Gov. Kathy Hochul recognized the drop in Covid rates and fewer hospitalizations, but warned that precautions were needed. "We're not surrendering. This is not disarmament," she said last Wednesday. "We're going to continue to be adaptable and responsive to the changing circumstances. But again, the trends are very, very, very positive." The positive trends are continuing. The number of new Covid cases on Sunday was the lowest since Oct. 25; hospitalizations were their lowest since Dec. 6; and the seven-day average positivity rate was 3 percent — which continued a 39-day streak of declining rates. All of this is good news as spring approaches and rates will likely drop further. So what happens next with existing mandates? Republicans on Monday again pressured Democratic leaders to end additional mandates, but their efforts were rebuffed on the Senate floor by the Democratic majority. Still, as more and more states — especially neighboring ones — lift restrictions, Hochul will continue to face election-year pressure to ease up on some of the Covid mandates, particularly masks in schools. She said she would reevaluate the school mask mandate in early March, after first encouraging students to take Covid tests before returning to school Feb. 28 after mid-winter break. But late Monday, Hochul also quietly extended her limited emergency Covid powers. "The only disaster emergency in NY is @GovKathyHochul. Her lust for endless emergency powers and control is dangerous. The only way it ends, the only way we get back to normal, is by ending her reign," Rob Astorino, a Republican candidate for governor,wrote Tuesday on Twitter. IT'S TUESDAY: Welcome back to the second annual installment of PM Playbook, an afternoon check-in to spill the day's tea — as we know it thus far — during one of the busiest seasons in New York politics.   A message from Healthcare Education Project: When COVID-19 hit New York, frontline healthcare workers answered the call. But as the system was stretched to the limit and New Yorkers struggled to find care, greedy health insurers pocketed billions. Despite these record profits, insurers are back squeezing hospitals for more. Doctors and caregivers can no longer survive on razor thin margins. Join us and help stop for-profit insurers from getting between doctors and their patients. Learn more.   FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE Hochul and her cabinet: It's a new year, and the Democratic governor is approaching six months on the job following her unexpected ascension in mid-August. So why not host a cabinet meeting? Hochul is doing so this afternoon with her top staff — it's the first one she's publicly announced in 2022, although it will be a private meeting. Hochul is at a critical time in her tenure: She's preparing her first budget; navigating the requests of New York City Mayor Eric Adams on bail reform and other issues; and running for election amid calls for additional loosening of Covid restrictions. The Campaign Trail Long Island Congress members wanted: Add Rep. Kathleen Rice to the listof House members from New York who will not seek reelection this fall. She's the third Long Island House member calling it quits. GOP Rep. Lee Zeldin in Suffolk County is running for governor in a Republican primary, while Democratic Rep. Tom Suozzi is running for his party's nod against Hochul. Put simply: That means three of the four Long Island House seats will be open races in November. What's next for Rice? It's unclear. She's an attorney and has had eyes on running for attorney general in the past, but that seat is secure for now with Attorney General Letitia James having a clear Democratic field for reelection this fall. Heading to Manhattan: If you were wondering about Hochul's schedule on Thursday, it's official: She'll be attending the Democratic convention in midtown Manhattan, where she'll be feted as the party's pick in a likely primary against the aforementioned Suozzi and New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams.     On the Beats Cryptocurrency titan talks: Brock Pierce has a lot of plans for crypto, and he has ideas on how to make New York eyeing more friendly to his sector. "I'm perfectly imperfect": Eric Adams has a lot to say , not always consistent. AROUND NEW YORK — U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and James have cross-endorsed. — The woman who was killed in her Chinatown apartment had worked to fight against anti-Asian hate and rallied others to the cause, according to a co-worker. — Two state lawmakers want tougher space heater safety standards after the Bronx fire that killed 17 people last month. — Sorry, Albany, Jack's Oyster House has reduced its hours to 5 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday only. — Rochester's Police Accountability Board is getting ready to launch. — State Sen. Diane Savino, a Staten Island Democrat, announced she won't seek a new term this year and is endorsing her former deputy chief of staff, Jessica Scaracella-Spanton, to succeed her. — The Seneca Nation is still withholdingcasino revenue from the state.   A message from Healthcare Education Project: Whether it's increasing out-of-pocket expenses, denying claims, or excluding hospitals and caregivers from their networks, greedy, for-profit insurance companies have been profiting off of hardworking New Yorkers for too long. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, heroic frontline healthcare workers stepped up, saved lives, and kept families healthy. But the pandemic devastated our entire healthcare system and pushed it to the brink. Even as New Yorkers struggled to find care and healthcare workers made gut-wrenching sacrifices to fight the pandemic, insurers put profits ahead of patients - muscling the doctors and hospitals that saved lives during COVID-19. Last year the top 10 health insurers pocketed more than $40 billion. Join our movement to demand NYS lawmakers put patients before profits. Learn more.   SOCIAL SCENE SPOTTED: NYC Mayor Eric Adams was hosted by IMG's president of fashion events and properties Leslie Russo at New York Fashion Week on Sunday morning. Adams attended the "IN THE BLK powered by #CHANGEFASHION Showcase at NYFW: The Shows" that spotlighted three emerging Black designers in a group runway show.Pic   Follow us on Twitter Anna Gronewold @annagronewold David Giambusso @giambusso   Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook  |  Playbook PM  |  California Playbook  |  Florida Playbook  |  Illinois Playbook  |  Massachusetts Playbook  |  New Jersey Playbook  |  New York Playbook  |  Brussels Playbook  |  London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters Follow us

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