,
New York breaks its COVID cases record for the third day in a row, registering 44,431 new cases Christmas on the eve.
State Governor Cathy Hochul shared the numbers at a Friday morning press conference. he blamed the giant spike omicron The variant is estimated to be behind 92% of new infections in the Empire State, adding: ‘It’s a very, very contagious variant.’
But Hochul also struck a note of optimism, insisting: It’s not Delta. It is Omicron, who has so far demonstrated that it is not that serious in its impact. This is not the same situation as it was in March 2020 or even last winter’s growth. We have done more tests. We have got more chances.
Hochul also revealed that the number of COVID hospitalizations increased by five per cent in a day, and now stands at 4,744. But the governor highlighted that the figure is far lower than the 7,000 who were hospitalized with the virus during Christmas 2020.
On Friday, Hochul also said that essential workers in New York will now only have to isolate for five days after they test positive for COVID if they are vaccinated and face a so-called breakthrough infection. have to do. She says she’s doing this to try to deal with a staff shortage, blaming the current 10-day isolation rules.
The new rule applies to fully vaccinated workers who are asymptomatic, as well as those who have mild symptoms, and who have not had a fever for at least 72 hours.
NY Governor Kathy Hochul is pictured announcing the latest record-breaking COVID figures on Christmas Eve
Hochul also announced its plan to keep public schools open using kids home testing
He outlines new booster-focused guidelines to protect elderly residents of care homes
Hochul also revealed that all visitors to prisons and prisons in an effort to keep prisoners safe must have been fully vaccinated or received a recent negative COVID test.
People line up for a COVID testing mobile clinic in Harlem on Christmas Eve, amid record-breaking coronavirus diagnoses at the Empire State
Hochul’s announcement came nearly 18 hours after his Thursday evening update, which saw 38,835 new COVID diagnoses in the Empire State, a record at the time, and up to 10,000 cases since December 22, when 28,924 infections were recorded.
New York is once again America’s COVID epicenter, although hospitalizations compared they were at the height of the first wave in spring 2020.
At the time, about 26 percent of all people who tested positive for COVID in New York City were hospitalized. Now only 2.1 people per 100,000 require medical treatment.
Growth story, check back for updates