COVID Mini Wave Hits New York

COVID-19 resurgence has looming in New York City since the end of August. Credit: Tomas Martinez via Unsplash

COVID-19 cases have spiked in New York City since late August, fueling national concerns over a fall resurgence in cases.

Health officials have reported a sharp increase in COVID-19, with cases at heights not seen since the winter 2022 surge. According to the NYC Department of Health, an average of more than 800 cases per day were recorded in late August. Further, over 65 people on average were being hospitalized daily due to COVID in late August. 

Though, officials note it is difficult to get an accurate report of case numbers, since many people use at-home test kits. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that on Aug. 21, around 12,000 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 across the U.S., a 21% increase from the weeks before. High-risk individuals have been told to once again take precaution at this time. 

With this spike, the New York Times reported that most New Yorkers at this point have built up some sort of immunity to COVID. For those who haven’t, Paxlovid — the COVID-19 pill — is still currently free. Public hospitals in the city will prescribe the treatment for free or at a very little cost. 

The State of New York is still developing more precautions to protect people from the new variant, BA.2.86. One of these is developing a new, updated coronavirus vaccine specially made to fight against these new variants. It’s expected to be available to the public this fall. 

In a statement, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul said, “while New Yorkers might want to be done with COVID-19, COVID-19 isn’t done with us.” 

Hochul added, “My administration will continue to monitor this situation, share information on the new boosters as soon as it’s available, and continue to make N-95 masks available statewide.” 

The federal government is also preparing for a COVID surge. It recently awarded $1.4 billion to fund the development of new coronavirus vaccines and treatments. 

“We're preparing for this fall's vaccine season because we know...the respiratory viruses that are out there are going to hit, and we're already beginning to see an increase in the number of COVID cases, said the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, Xavier Becerra, in an interview with Scripps News.

In a Sept. 1 email sent to students, Claudia Zegans, Director of Health Services at Marist College, reminded students that COVID is still present in the Marist community. Zegans later announced that there’ll be a vaccine clinic for the campus to receive an updated COVID shot.

According to Zegans’ email, Marist will begin offering vaccine clinics on Sept. 20 in the Student Center from 11am to 2pm. Shots are available through appointment only, and will be offered through November.