Reported COVID-19 cases are on the rise in New York City this month, and anyone who’s had one too many friends skip out on a holiday party because they’re sick may be wondering where to get tested and vaccinated this season.
Since the federal state of emergency around the coronavirus ended in May, things have changed somewhat, but free tests and shots are still widely available – along with immunizations against the flu and RSV, which are also going around.
In a pre-Christmas message, Dr. James McDonald, the state’s health commissioner, said New Yorkers are fortunate that, for the first time, “we have three safe and effective vaccines that can provide protection” against these viruses.
He added, “If you are experiencing symptoms of illness, such as fever, cough, sore throat or runny nose, consider staying home or wearing a mask to avoid spreading that illness to your loved ones.”
New York City data on the number of COVID cases became less reliable amid a decline in in-person testing for the virus. But the trend lines show both a rise in reported cases this month as well as an increase in hospitalizations, which mirror national data tracked by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
What’s driving the latest COVID-19 surge?
Nationally, the latest surge in the coronavirus is being driven by a new variant, JN.1, which was first detected in September and now accounts for an estimated 44% of cases, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the Northeast, that figure is higher, with JN.1 accounting for an estimated 57% of cases.
The JN.1 variant appears to be either more transmissible or better at evading immunity than other strains going around, but there’s no evidence that it poses a greater risk to public health, the CDC said in an update last week.
JN.1 is structurally similar to other recent strains and the latest COVID vaccine should still work well in providing protection against the variant, the CDC added.
Where…
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