New York State is again emerging as a “hotspot” for the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).
The number of confirmed cases is rapidly increasing across the U.S., with the majority of counties at high risk of COVID-19 concentrated in New York State.
New York State has 10 out of 14 counties designated as “high” in the nation’s COVID-19 risk level by counties released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on the 19th.
Based on the number of new confirmed cases per 100,000 population and inpatients, the CDC evaluates and announces three levels of COVID-19 risk by county: low, medium, and high.
Newly released statistics show that only 14 counties in the country are rated at risk, of which more than 70% are in New York State.
Counties rated as high risk for COVID-19 in New York State are mostly western and northern regions, which are a significant distance from New York City. However, concerns are being raised about the rapidly rising risk of COVID-19 across New York State.
According to provincial government statistics, on the 13th of last month, the average number of new confirmed cases per 100,000 people on 7 days was 8.2, the lowest in eight months. However, it has increased rapidly since then, and now stands at 30.7.
In New York City, the situation is getting progressively worse.
Among the five boroughs in New York City, Manhattan was rated as “moderate” at risk of COVID-19. According to the city’s health department, in some parts of Manhattan, the confirmed rate of COVID-19 is over 15%. The other four, including Queens, are still at a ‘low’ level.
In this regard, New York City Health Commissioner Ashwin Bashan recommended the use of face masks in all indoor areas.
Nassau County, outside New York City, and Bergen County, New Jersey, also had a “moderate” risk.
In addition to the significant increase in the number of stealth omicron (BA.2) infections, the proportion of new sub-variants BA.2. The fact that there is is cited as a factor.
In particular, according to CDC statistics, the BA.2.12.1 mutation, which is known to be more contagious than Omicron, is becoming the dominant species, accounting for more than 52% of the Corona 19 strains currently spreading in New York.