Metrics indicate Bronx is cooling off from omicron peak
BY ROBBIE SEQUEIRA
As predicted by health leaders and
Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul last
week, cases of the omicron variant
and COVID-19 hospitalizations continue
to trend downward within New
York’s borders following a two-month
rise in cases that took shape in New
York City in late November. While the
large COVID clusters that began forming
in Midtown and Lower Manhattan
over the winter saw some of its lowest
case rates since the summer last week,
the central Bronx still has high-spread
areas in sections like Castle Hill and
Parkchester entering Tuesday.
The Castle Hill section continues
to be the Bronx’s highest virus corner
with 198.4 cases per 100,000 residents
over the past seven days, a metric that
is 30 cases higher than the city’s median
average of 153.7 cases per 100,000.
The statewide positivity rate was
15.7% on Jan. 17, with the highest percentages
in upstate Western New York
(20.9%), Central New York (20.1%) and
Long Island (18.5%).
The Bronx’s positivity rate is hovering
around 16.1% entering Tuesday.
However, much like the rest of the
state, metrics show that omicron has
most likely hit a peak in the borough,
as the Bronx is cooling down from a record
high 502 cases per 100,000 on Jan.
11 to 420.7 cases per 100,000 entering
Tuesday. The boroughwide decline in
cases comes at a good time, as Bronx
County hospitals currently have 84%
of ICU space occupied — 116 beds are
fi lled by COVID patients — suggesting
hospitals may not be well-positioned
to absorb a wave of new COVID infections.
The Bronx is also seeing an incremental
rise in COVID-19 deaths, totaling
17.4 daily deaths over the past
seven days, which is one of its highest
death rates since last April. Although
the statewide 7-day average for cases
and hospitalizations are declining,
more than 150 people died of COVIDrelated
causes in New York state on
Monday, according to recent health
data.
Health data shows that while
breakthrough cases have been a factor
in rising COVID-19 numbers, all
17 deaths over the past week in the
Bronx were among unvaccinated residents.
Roughly 82.2% of Bronx residents
have received at least one dose
of the COVID-19 vaccine, while 69.1%
are considered fully vaccinated.
“I’m proud of the work New Yorkers
have been putting in to keep the
numbers down and protect our vulnerable
loved ones,” Hochul said in a
Jan. 17 statement. “While we are continuing
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BRONX TIMES REPORTER, J 4 JAN. 21-27, 2022 BTR
A mother receives an at-home COVID-19 test at a free distribution event in Fordham last
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to see promising trends, we
are not through the winter surge yet
and it is critical that we continue to
use the tools that will help stop the
spread.”
For the fi rst time since the pandemic
started, the number of COVID
cases has soared beyond 800,000 a day
nationwide. Despite news omicron
may be peaking in New York City,
White House health offi cials warned
of a tough road ahead.
“We shouldn’t expect a national
peak in the coming days. The next few
weeks will be tough,” said U.S. Surgeon
General Dr. Vivek Murthy.
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