NYC prepares for omicron threat with new mandates
BY ROBBIE SEQUEIRA
COVID-19 cases are rising back up
in New York City’s northernmost borough,
as the Bronx averaged 206 new
confi rmed cases per day, a total that
hasn’t been reached since the beginning
of summer. However, increased
vaccination efforts in the borough —
74.3% of Bronxites have received at
least one dose while 64.2% are fully
vaccinated — have managed to keep
hospitalizations and deaths low.
The Bronx’s Dec. 4 case total of 349
confi rmed cases, is its highest in two
months. However, no Bronx ZIP code
saw a transmission per 100,000 metric
higher than 15 cases per 100,000 entering
Monday; which is three higher
than the state’s median average.
City Island’s 10464 ZIP code, which
saw a caseload of 16.4 cases per 100,000
residents last week, saw numbers go
down to 13.3 cases per 100,000 as of
Monday, which is the highest total in
the Bronx.
Over the weekend, multiple cases of
the omicron variant were confi rmed
in New York City, and leaders are now
hoping new mandates can combat the
spread of the latest COVID-19 strain.
On Dec. 4, three new cases of the
highly transmissible omicron variant
were detected in New York City, bringing
the state’s total to eight, Gov. Kathy
Hochul announced.
At least 17 states have detected the
A sign urges people to get the COVID-19 vaccine at the Staten Island Ferry terminal on Nov.
29 in New York City. Photo Spencer Platt/Getty Images
omicron coronavirus variant and that
number is expected to rise, according
to Centers for Disease Control and Pre- vention Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky
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BRONX TIMES REPORTER, D 4 EC. 10-16, 2021 BTR
on a media appearance Sunday.
On Monday, Mayor Bill de Blasio
announced a sweeping coronavirus
vaccine mandate for all private employers
in New York City, and the measure,
which takes effect Dec. 27, he described
as a “preemptive strike” to stall another
wave of coronavirus cases and
help reduce transmission during the
winter months and holiday gatherings.
The mandate is expected to affect
184,000 businesses and could be subject
to legal challenges in the coming
weeks.
Additionally, patrons need to provide
proof of two doses of the COVID-19
vaccine rather than one dose, and kids
ages 5-11, will have to show proof of one
dose for indoor dining and other activities
starting on Dec. 14.
Nearly 90% of adults in the city now
have at least one dose of the vaccine.
COVID-19 trends citywide continue
to increase, according to the New York
City Health Department. The 7-day positivity
rate was up to 2.81% as of Dec. 4.,
which is up from 2.75% last week. Hospitalizations
are also increasing, with
the citywide rate now up to 1 hospitalization
for every 100,000 residents.
However, while omicron has been
the talking point of the latest COVID-19
cycle, the delta variant that led to caseload
increases over the summer months
is still driving much of the emerging
cases in the city.
More than 98% of all recently-tested
COVID-19 positive cases involve the
highly-infectious delta variant, which
has been the predominant strain of
COVID-19 in the Five Boroughs, according
to the city’s Department of
Health and Mental Hygiene.
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