Governor says 'alarm going off' on COVID-19; additional steps coming

Gov. Kathy Hochul said Thursday that rising numbers of COVID-19 indicators in New York State are "an alarm going off," as Long Island reported more than 2,000 new cases and New York City logged more than 4,200.

Hochul said she plans to announce additional steps on Friday to address the soaring numbers in what medical experts call another surge of the virus almost two years into the pandemic.

Her comments came as the FDA and CDC approved booster shots for 16- and 17-year-olds. Hochul also said the omicron variant is increasing in New York State through "community spread" and not from people traveling overseas.

New York is experiencing a jump in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations like many states, including in the Northeast, but it is still worrying, Hochul said at a news briefing.

"We’re not an anomaly, but it is not still a good place to be," she said. "This spread is an alarm. It’s an alarm going off."

Suffolk County reported 1,132 new cases in test results from Wednesday, while Nassau had 911, for a total of 2,043, according to state data.

New York City, in a big leap from previous days and weeks, reported 4,253 new cases.

Hochul sought to reassure residents, saying that although numbers are rising as people move indoors amid colder weather, it is not a reason to panic.

"This is not the sky is falling," she said.

Hochul was asked whether she plans to implement statewide policies similar to those adopted by New York City, which has the lowest positivity levels in the state.

"Plans are being developed to address the impending surge," she said. "I’ve always said I will continue to reserve the right to take other steps if necessary, and the numbers right now are not looking good."

Hochul did not specify what the plans are, but said her team is "working around the clock" to address the surge. "I know the numbers. I know them like the back of my hand."

New York City’s positivity level in testing for COVID-19 is about 2.5%, compared to 6% on Long Island and 10% in some upstate areas.

Long Island on many days is now producing nearly as many new daily cases of COVID-19 as New York City, even though the city has triple the population.

New York City requires people to show proof of vaccination to enter restaurants, bars, movie theaters, fast food chains, sports and concert venues, including Madison Square Garden and the Barclays Center, Broadway plays, bowling alleys, museums and other public places.

Long Island does not follow that policy, as people are free to enter the locations unvaccinated and unmasked.

People in New York City also are required to wear masks in many public locations, such as Radio City Music Hall, and are often seen wearing them on the streets as well.

Medical experts are calling on the governor to implement similar policies across the state to help bring the pandemic to something of an end.

COVID-19 case numbers are jumping as Christmas and New Year's are on the way, the flu is kicking in and many virus mandates have been dropped.

One leading infectious disease specialist on Long Island this week called the region's numbers "horrible."

Northwell Health officials said the number of COVID-19 patients in their system, the state's largest, has doubled over the past month.

The seven-day positivity average in testing for the virus inched up on Long Island in test results from Wednesday to 6.09%, from 6.04% the previous day. The average was 2.55% in New York City and 4.78% statewide.

Across the state, 54 people died on Wednesday of causes linked to the virus, including one each in Suffolk and Nassau.

Hochul said Thursday that the state now has 19 confirmed cases of omicron, with most in New York City, but three in Suffolk and others upstate. The number was revised down from 20 reported on Wednesday due to an error, she said.

"At this point, we are prepared to say what we have is community spread," she said. "It is not coming from people who have traveled. It is being spread in the communities."

The United States and many other nations already were urging adults to get booster shots to pump up immunity that can wane months after vaccination, calls that intensified with the discovery of the omicron variant.

The Food and Drug Administration gave emergency authorization for the teenagers to get a third dose of the vaccine made by Pfizer and its partner BioNTech — if it has been six months since their last shot. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention followed with is approval later Thursday.

One Long Island pediatric specialist called the approval "great" news and urged parents to get their kids boosted.

"We know that the immunity does wane over time" from the first two shots, said Dr. Josh Rocker, chief of pediatric emergency medicine for New Hyde Park-based Northwell Health. "We also know that with omicron variant that the effectiveness with just the two vaccines is not as great, and with a booster is much better."

"So, getting boosted I think is a great idea," he said.

The Pfizer vaccine is the only option in the United States for anyone younger than 18, either for initial vaccination or for use as a booster. It’s not yet clear if or when teens younger than 16 might need a third Pfizer dose.

"The booster vaccination increases the level of immunity and dramatically improves protection against COVID-19 in all age groups studied so far," BioNTech CEO Ugur Sahin said in a statement.

Vaccinations for children as young as 5 just began last month, using special low-dose Pfizer shots. By this week, about 5 million 5- to 11-year-olds had gotten a first dose.

With AP

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