New York City raised its COVID-19 alert level from “low” to “medium” after recent data showed an increase in cases, the city’s Department of Health reported today.
“With the increase in cases, New York City has entered the alert level of medium risk,” said the director of the health agency, Ashwin Vasan in a statement.
Vasan made the decision after reviewing the most recent data showing cases have exceeded the rate of 200 per 100,000 people in the city’s five boroughs.
“In practice, this means New Yorkers need to be even more cautious than they have been in recent weeks,” he said, warning that seniors who are at risk of serious illness — because of their age, pre-existing conditions or not being vaccinated ), they should consider taking extra precautions, such as avoiding large gatherings indoors.
The Health agency insisted on recommending the use of the mask in closed public places and that New Yorkers take the test before and after any meeting.
With COVID-19 cases rising, NYC has entered the Medium risk alert level. Cases have now surpassed a rate of 200 per 100,000 people. As a practical matter, what this means for New Yorkers is that they must exercise even greater caution than they have the last few weeks. 🧵 https://t.co/5mnutXijuL
— Commissioner Ashwin Vasan, MD, PhD (@NYCHealthCommr) May 2, 2022
“The next few weeks will be critical in slowing the spread of COVID-19 and getting back to a low risk level so we can more safely enjoy our spring,” Vasan said.
“As a city, we have the tools we need to deal with this virus. As New Yorkers, we are in this together. By incorporating these measures into our daily lives, we can continue to care for each other and ourselves,” said the doctor.
According to the CBS network, which cites data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cases are increasing in almost every corner of the state of New York, as it continues to be treated with a new variant called BA. 2.12.1.
It further notes that New York is home to 37 of the 54 US counties with the highest levels of community transmission.
These warnings come after the city of New York has eliminated the mandatory mask in closed places last February (although some private spaces maintain it) and other measures, such as the presentation of a proof of vaccination, have also been relaxed in the most of the city.
The president of the Borough of Manhattan, Mark Levine, posted a message on social networks where he precisely takes up one of the recommendations of the health authorities in the face of the new alert level for Covid-19.
“Given NYC’s new “yellow” status, @nycHealthy has updated key guidance:
“It is now recommended that people who are at higher risk of severe COVID-19 illness due to age, an underlying health condition, or who have not been vaccinated should consider avoiding crowded indoor gatherings,” Levine said. .
Given NYC’s new “yellow” status, @nycHealthy has updated one key piece of guidance:
It’s now advising that people who are at higher risk for severe covid illness due to age, underlying health condition, or being unvax’d, should consider avoiding crowded indoor gatherings. 4/
— Mark D. Levine (@MarkLevineNYC) May 2, 2022
xx
–
