NY HEALTH COMMISSIONER: COVID Increasing At Rates Never Before Documented

WSHU: New York's health commissioner says COVID-19 is increasing at rates never before documented 

Concerns about the spread of the omicron variant of the coronavirus are growing, as the more contagious strain is beginning to take hold in New York.

The state reported 21,000 new cases on Thursday, up more than 40% from the day before, and the highest one-day number since the pandemic began.

The state's health commissioner, Dr. Mary Bassett, said the best defense against the coming wave is vaccinations, including booster shots, and wearing masks in public settings.

Bassett said the science is still “evolving” on omicron, but so far it appears to be very contagious. She said state health officials are seeing a rate of increase that has “never been documented before.”

Bassett said the variant so far is milder than previous forms of the virus, but unvaccinated people are in danger of becoming very ill.

“Now is the time to recognize that we have something new,” Bassett said. “And you may want to change your mind about getting vaccinated.”

People who have not yet received a booster shot are also at more risk of contracting a more serious illness from the omicron variant....

https://www.wshu.org/long-island-news/2021-12-17/new-yorks-health-commi…