New York State authorities called on Tuesday for more vigilance following the appearance of the new variant of the coronavirus known as Omicron, of which three cases of infection were detected in neighboring Canada.
“Omicron is just across the bridge in Ontario,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a tweet, urging everyone who has yet to be vaccinated, especially residents of western New York City ”, To receive their doses.
“There is no reason to wait,” she added.
For his part, the outgoing mayor of New York, Bill de Blasio stressed that there is certainly no case of infection with the new variant, but “it can happen in the days to come”.
He said that health authorities maintain regular contact with their federal and state counterparts through information sharing ”on the situation, calling for facing the double challenge: Omicron and Delta.
Likewise, New York Health Commissioner Dave Chokshi issued a memo urging New Yorkers to wear protective masks in public places at all times. This measure concerns both vaccinated people and those who have already contracted Covid-19.
He also encouraged people returning from a trip to take a Covid test.
Same story with the mayor-elect Eric Adams who insisted on the imperative to be vaccinated.
“The vaccine is our most powerful weapon,” he said during a briefing, before calling for more coordination to deal with the current health crisis.
On Monday, President Joe Biden called on Americans to get vaccinated and have their children vaccinated, or if necessary receive their booster doses, as well as to wear a mask indoors.
The American president estimated that “sooner or later” the new variant would also appear in the United States, without announcing additional binding measures immediately, whether at the borders or within the United States.
LR/MAP
–
