In response to the escalating number of Covid cases in New York City, health officials have advocated that face masks be worn in all indoor spaces and crowds.
Using Twitter for Friday, health officials reminded residents of the advice and suggested they use an N95 mask of excellent quality.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), all five boroughs of New York are now in the ‘high’ alert category for Covid, meaning masks are suggested.
It coincides with the emergence of Omicron strains BA.4 and BA.5, which scientists believe will lead to an increase in infections throughout the United States.
But there is no evidence that either strain is more likely than other Omicron variants to cause serious disease or death.
The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene stated in a recent blog post, ‘We are currently observing elevated amounts of Covid in the city.
All New Yorkers should wear a high-quality mask, such as an N95, KN95, or KF94, in all public indoor settings and around outdoor crowds to help slow the disease’s spread.
Throughout this spring and summer, masking regulations have remained in force on the city’s public transportation system and in select institutions.
In the second half of May, all five boroughs — Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island — were on “high” Covid alert.
They went to moderate risk in June, but are now back in the “red” zone this month.
The masking recommendations for New York City are based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s alert levels (CDC).
When the number of Covid admissions per 100,000 people exceeds 20 or the percentage of beds occupied by Covid patients exceeds 15%, areas are placed on high Covid alert.
However, this metric does not account for individuals who were admitted for a different condition, such as a fall, but later tested positive for the virus.
When the CDC classifies an area as “high” risk, residents are advised to wear masks indoors and obtain the Covid vaccine.
It also recommends ensuring indoor ventilation whenever possible.
Infection rates in New York City have increased by 18 percent in the last two weeks, reaching 297 cases per 100,000 persons, according to official data.
Manhattan has the highest infection rate (338), followed by Staten Island (333) and then Queens (321). (331).
However, these numbers are likely underestimated because many people with symptoms do not get tested.
The current positive rate — the proportion of swabs that detect the virus — is 15 percent, which is well above the level advised by the World Health Organization.
Approximately six percent of hospital beds are occupied by Covid patients, as seen by the daily hospitalization of approximately 79 patients.
In addition, the city is currently registering an average of seven deaths per day, a decrease of one-third from the previous week’s average of eleven per day.
There are growing fears that the introduction of Omicron strains BA.4 and BA.5 may increase infections.
Last week, the most recent week for which data is available, they accounted for around 70 percent of cases in the New York-New Jersey region.
In comparison, they were behind on 56% of instances the previous week.
The strains have an edge over others due to their enhanced ability to spread and evade immunity from vaccines or previous infections. They are already dominant in the United Kingdom, South Africa, and several other nations.
However, there is currently no evidence that they are causing an increase in the number of persons with severe illnesses or deaths from the disease.
