What you should know
- COVID cases are on the rise across the United States once again, driven in large part by the highly contagious and more vaccine-resistant Omicron sub-variants.
- All five New York City boroughs were added back to the CDC’s high-risk category for the spread of COVID on Friday, with Westchester County also added to the list.
- What is behind the spread? Experts believe it is being driven by Omicron’s BA.5 and BA.4 sub-variants, which are said to be 4.2 times more vaccine evasive than their predecessor and also more transmissible.
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NEW YORK – New York State on Monday announced a new COVID hotline to serve those who have tested positive for the virus but do not have a health care provider, Governor Kathy Hochul announced.
The hotline, 1-888-TREAT-NY, uses NYC Health + Hospitals’ Virtual ExpressCare platform and aims to help reduce barriers to treatment for underserved communities.
All New Yorkers outside of New York City, regardless of income or health insurance coverage, who test positive for COVID-19 are eligible to be screened for treatment by calling that hotline or completing an online screening. the website NYS COVID-19 ExpressCare Therapeutics Accesswhich includes a telemedicine visit.
New York City residents should call 212-COVID-19. It’s the same hotline, which is available 24/7 and staffed by clinically trained H+H professionals. Providers with H+H also offer virtual care through the ExpressCare platform.
If you opt for a telemedicine visit, expect a clinical evaluation by medical providers who will identify the appropriate COVID-19 treatment plan. That may include oral antivirals like Paxlovid or Molnupiravir, which have been shown to decrease hospitalization for those at risk of severe illness from COVID. These medications can help fight infection and shorten recovery time if taken early.
Since all treatments require a prescription, those who test positive for COVID-19 should speak with their provider or call 888-TREAT-NY to determine which treatment is best for them, Hochul said. New York State receives a weekly allocation of Paxlovid and Molnupiravir from the US Department of Health and Human Services.
“All New Yorkers should have access to the latest COVID-19 therapies, regardless of whether they have a regular health care provider,” New York State Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Mary T. said in a statement. Bassett. “Thanks to the department’s agreement with NYC Health + Hospitals, our new COVID-19 Treatment Hotline at 888-TREAT-NY is another tool to reduce barriers to treatment and will help ensure traditionally underserved communities have access to treatment. same attention as other New Yorkers.
Access to treatment, and testing, is once again critically important as New York and the rest of the United States grapple with a sixth wave of the pandemic fueled by what some are calling the “worst version” of Omicron yet. All five boroughs are back in the CDC’s high-risk category for community spread of COVID as of the agency’s latest update, as city health officials remind people it’s smart to wear masks. indoor.
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