As the state lost another 30 citizens to the virus on December 30, Governor Kathy Hochul advises everyone to stay up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations and the most recent bivalent booster.
In a statement, Hochul noted that among the many resources available were COVID-19 testing before travel and consulting a physician for care after a positive result.
In the statement, Hochul encouraged everyone to “stay vigilant and continue to use all available resources to keep themselves, their loved ones, and their neighborhoods healthy and safe as New Yorkers joyfully celebrate a new year.”
Kids as young as six months old can receive the bivalent COVID-19 vaccination. Flu activities until December 24 confirmed a 12th week of increased rates of flu activity, according to the state health department.
Lab-confirmed flu cases out of New York City increased by 4% from one week to the next, from 34,599 cases to 36,047. According to the study, confirmed cases decreased by 19% in New York City, but statewide hospitalizations decreased by 3% from the past week, finishing on December 17th, to 2,709 hospitalizations.
As part of an earlier public awareness campaign, Governor Hochul invited Dr. Mary T. Bassett, the state’s health commissioner, to speak directly to New Yorkers about the 3 viruses currently common in the city with the potential to cause severe sickness.
