Health News: Rapid rise in Covid cases, hospitalizations and deaths remain low
The city Department of Health data shows increasing Covid cases, with confirmed cases rising to levels not seen since April 2021. Cases have risen above 2,500 per day since December 6th, but so far appear to be milder cases not leading to higher rates of hospitalization or death, but those measures lag behind spikes in cases and will appear in later data.
Although the Omicron variant has been looked at with the most concern over its possible greater transmissibility, the Delta variant still makes up 97% of tested cases in the city, with Omicron found in 1% of cases.
A decrease in mask usage, return to indoor activities, and end-of-year holiday gatherings have the potential to fuel a Winter outbreak, so continue to follow best pandemic practices and do not take risks that may expose you to what may be a wave of a more contagious variant.
New details for city's upcoming "Vax to Work" vaccine requirement for private businesses
The vaccine requirement Mayor de Blasio proposed earlier this month now has a few new details. Titled Vax to Work, the program will take effect December 27th, 5 days before the de Blasio administration ends. Mayor-elect Eric Adams has not unequivocally expressed support for the plan, although many of his plans for fighting the pandemic remain unknown.
Vax to Work will rely on each business to verify and maintain a record that their on-site employees have received at least one dose by December 27th and a second dose 45 days later. Businesses must then be prepared to make those records available for inspection, but any enforcement or potential fines have not been finalized. According to the guidance provided to businesses, employees who refuse to get vaccinated would not be allowed to perform work on-site, but would not be fired.
De Blasio proposes vaccine mandate for private businesses
Mayor de Blasio announced that private businesses must follow a vaccine mandate. The move is the first in the U.S. to target private workers and was light on details, with the administration promising to issue further guidance on December 15th, just 12 days before the mandate is set to begin.
Similar mandates on public employees at the state and federal levels have been challenged in court, and the de Blasio adminstration is set to end five days after the mandate would begin, with Mayor-elect Adams being sworn in on January 1, 2022.
Second case of 'Omicron' Covid variant detected in the U.S. had recently traveled to NYC, 4 other cases found within the city
The second American case of the 'Omicron' Covid variant has been detected in a Minnesota resident who had recently traveled to NYC to attend an Anime convention at the Javits Center. The individual had begun to experience symptoms on November 22nd, after attending the convention. The Anime NYC attendance policy required face covernings and proof of at least one vaccine dose, including if you had only immediately received your first dose. The Minnesota individual was therefore vaccinated, but to what extent is unknown. In clinical trials of the PfizerβBioNTech vaccine, significant protection was only seen to develop 14 days after the first dose.
The first known 'Omicron' case was detected December 1st in California. Much like during the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, individual cases will initially be identified in the NYC area, but the presence of singular cases in the area will likely indicate a larger number of unidentifed cases that are already existing, so it is important to take safety precautions now. The CDC and the NYC Department of Health recommend continuing to wear masks indoors and maintaining increased ventilation and social distance in indoor situations.
Update, 6pm
Governor Hochul and Mayor DeBlasio held a joint press conference to announce the first 5 known cases in New York, with 4 cases within the city.
Flu season begins in NYC with slightly higher case numbers
In the city's latest flu season report, cases of influenza remain low, but higher than the previous 5-year average. The 2019β2020 season was especially elevated before the Covid-19 pandemic took hold, and the 2020β2021 season was greatly decreased due to social distancing and mask use. Week 46 Influenza Trends via NYC DOH
Health professionals fear the potential for simultaneous flu and Covid outbreaks during the Winter months as people gather during holiday celebrations. If you have not received your Covid booster, you can safely schedule a flu shot and Covid booster at the same time, ensuring your protection is highest when you may potentially be exposed to either disease.
Governor Hochul declares state of emergency ahead of potential spikes in Covid
An Executive Order signed by Governor Hochul will put NY under a state of emergency directed at maintaining adequate hospital space. Although the new Omicron Covid variant has yet to be observed in New York, it has the potential to impact emergency room availability with a surge of new patients. In preparation, the Executive Order will allow the state to acquire critical supplies and for hospitals to manage their number of available beds by limiting non-urgent care.
The action will last through January 15th, when data will be reevaluated.
