The Vascular Institute of New York
Est. 1992
ENRICO ASCHER, MD
Advanced Vascular Center
The Total Vascular Care Center
is Open Everyday
Serving New York Communities
Vascular Needs
Varicose Veins • Leg Pain or Swelling
Leg Wounds • Blocked Arteries
Call for Appointment
718-438-3800
960-50th Street, Brooklyn,
NY 11219
www.VascularNYC.com
2021 BES TOF BK.COM
NATALIE MARKS, MD
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COURIER L 20 IFE, DECEMBER 3-9, 2021
Health
New York City braces
for Omicron arrival
BY ROBERT POZARYCKI
New York City and state health offi -
cials braced for the likely arrival of the
new COVID-19 variant known as Omicron
over the weekend as cases were
detected in Africa, Europe, and Asia.
While just a few cases of the variant
have been discoveredin the United
States, Gov. Kathy Hochul warned in a
statement that New Yorkers should be
ready to deal with an outbreak of the
new strain.
“We’ve taken extraordinary action
to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and
combat this pandemic,” said Hochul
in a statement. “However, we continue
to see warning signs of spikes this
upcoming winter, and while the new
Omicron variant has yet to be detected
in New York State, it’s coming.”
The governor declared a state of
emergency on Nov. 26 and signed an
executive order allowing the Department
of Health to restrict non-essential
and non-urgent procedures in
hospitals to ensure there is enough capacity,
beginning on Dec. 3.
DOH’s Wadsworth Center lab in Albany
has been monitoring COVID-19
virus samples from across the Empire
State for new variants, according to
the governor.
New York City’s Department of
Health and Mental Hygiene is also
sequencing about 14 percent of cases
which will help offi cials detect Omicron,
according to the chairperson of
the City Council’s health committee.
“NYC health dept is sequencing
about 14% of covid cases, so if/when
it arrives here we will know quickly,”
wrote Manhattan Council Member
Mark Levine on Twitter Friday. “Best
thing we can do in meantime: ensure
every single eligible person in NYC is
vax’d/boosted.”
The B.1.1.529 variant has not yet
been detected in NYC. (Or the U.S.)
A spokesperson for the city agency
said recommended precautions remain
the same.
“The Health Department is following
the science closely, and is in communication
with the CDC,” said Victoria
Merlino in an emailed statement.
“As of right now, our recommended
precautions remain the same — we encourage
New Yorkers to get vaccinated
and boosted, stay masked in public
spaces, and test before and after gathering
together, or traveling.”
The new B.1.1.529 variant — which
got its more common name Omicron
after the 15th letter of the Greek alphabet
— was fi rst reported in South Africa
on Nov. 24 and the World Health
Organization classifi ed it as a “variant
of concern,” due to its high number of
mutations.
Gov. Kathy Hochul gives a COVID-19 briefi ng
in September at her Manhattan offi ce.
Kevin P. Coughlin / Offi ce of the Governor
The new variant is still being studied
and it’s not yet clear whether it’s
more transmissible or causes more
severe illness than the predominant
Delta strain, according to a Sunday
update by the WHO. However, preliminary
evidence suggests there may be
an increased risk of reinfection.
Cases and hospitalizations have increased
in South Africa, but researchers
are trying to fi gure out whether
that was tied to the new variant or due
to other reasons.
Several countries, including the
United States as of Monday, have rolled
out travel restrictions from southern
African countries in response.
COVID-19 cases have been on the
rise in New York in recent weeks, still
driven by Delta, especially in Western
New York where the state registered
a 10.15 percent positivity rate on Friday.
Offi cials in Erie County, which
includes Buffalo, re-instituted mask
mandates for all indoor public spaces
on Nov. 23.
New York City still has the lowest
rate in the whole state at 1.69 percent,
according to the state, but city data
shows higher percentages in some
parts of the Five Boroughs, particularly
on Staten Island, and areas of
Queens and southern Brooklyn.
The full vaccination rate for all
New Yorkers was 68.2 percent as of Friday,
Nov. 26, with 77.5 percent of state
residents getting at least one dose, and
90.3 percent of adults getting at least
one shot.
WINNER
ANIL HINGORANI, MD
BEST VASCULAR AND VEIN CENTER
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