NYC May Raise COVID Alert Level to ‘High’ Soon as City Expects to Issue New Mask Notice – NBC New York (47)

NEW YORK — New York City is preparing to potentially raise its COVID alert level for the second time this month as a fifth pandemic wave fueled by highly contagious subvariants of the potent Omicron strain tightens its grip on the metro area. and the nation.

Mayor Eric Adams’ office indicated a change could be “days” away in a COVID preparedness update on Monday. The Democrats’ team also said a new mask advisory from the health department would be issued later that day.

The five boroughs have been in a “medium” COVID alert status since May 2 after passing a key threshold: 200 new daily cases per 100,000 residents over a seven-day period. An upgrade to “high” alert status would require COVID hospitalizations to hit a critical benchmark: 10 new admissions per 100,000 residents on an ongoing basis as well. And all five boroughs are precariously close.

At the time health officials announced the switch to medium alert, the rolling rate of hospitalizations was 6.8 per 100,000 population, while the rolling rate of new cases was 218.22. Both rates have been rising steadily ever since, at 9.2 and 303.33 now.

Any upgrade to high alert status would be strictly linked to concerns about overwhelming the health system in terms of hospitalizations. So far, infections have skyrocketed, but symptoms have been mild and the hospitalization rate has remained manageable. Officials do not expect another severe increase like the one Ómicron caused in January, but they are wary of the need to set aside resources.

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If the alert level is raised as the health department anticipates, it would not trigger any new COVID mandates. Those would be considered only if the alert level reached “very high,” which is the highest of the four levels, health officials say.

But the recommendations are clear. The health advisory that city officials plan to issue later Monday urges all residents to wear high-quality face masks, such as KN95 and KF94 masks and N95 respirators, when indoors and in public places, including supermarkets, building lobbies, offices, stores, and other shared spaces where people can interact (think bathrooms, hallways, meeting areas).

The advisory is expected to convey a special urgency around face coverings for people who are at high risk of severe illness and death from COVID, meaning those who are over 65 or unvaccinated, officials say. city ​​health.

Anyone who is ineligible for vaccination due to age or any other reason is urged to avoid crowded settings and non-essential gatherings, especially indoors.

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