New York authorities raised the alert level for covid-19 to the “high” category on Tuesday, just one day after asking the population to wear a mask again in all public indoor places.
“The alert level for COVID-19 in New York City is now high. There is high community spread of COVID-19 and the pressure on the health care system is increasing,” the New York Department of Health announced in a brief release.
Health Commissioner Ashwin Vasan, for his part, assured that it is time to “redouble the measures that protect ourselves and others.”
The City Council announced this Monday that millions of home tests will be distributed to try to contain the rebound in covid-19 cases that is being registered in the city.
The high level of alert is declared when certain levels of hospitalization are exceeded and a certain proportion of beds occupied by patients with covid-19 is reached.
The Department of Health recommends those who have not yet been vaccinated, wear a mask indoors in public places and in crowded outdoor areas, and limit the number of people in gatherings.
In addition, it recommends that New Yorkers stay home if they are sick or have been exposed to the disease.
“Returning to a low risk level depends on everyone doing their part, and if we follow the recommendations, our forecasts anticipate that the peak of this wave will not last long. What we do now can make a difference,” Vasan stressed.
This month, cases in the city have risen sharply again, reaching 48 per 100,000 inhabitants in seven days, according to the latest official data, which also shows a clear increase in hospital admissions (2,497 two days ago).
New York was at the beginning of the pandemic one of the world epicenters of covid-19 and the city already accumulates more than 40,000 deaths from the disease, according to official data.
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