NYC elevates COVID-19 alert level to 'high'
New York City has reached a "high" level of COVID-19 spread, according to its health department's metrics. Credit: AP/John Minchillo
New York City’s health department on Tuesday elevated the local COVID-19 alert level to "high," while urging the wearing of masks once again in any indoor public setting.
The elevated level comes as COVID infections continue to rise, though hospitalizations and deaths, key indicators for the pandemic's danger to the public, remain low. The department’s commissioner, Dr. Ashwin Vasan, said in a statement announcing the alert level that “our forecasts anticipate this wave’s peak will not last long.”
Under the "high" alert level — second only to "very high" on the four-level city scale beginning at "low" — the department also suggests avoiding crowded, indoor gatherings.
“New York City has transitioned to a high COVID alert level, meaning now is the time to double down on protecting ourselves and each other by making choices that can keep our friends, neighbors, relatives and co-workers from getting sick,” Vasan said in the statement. “As a city, we have the tools to blunt the impact of this wave, including distributing tests, masks and promoting treatments.”
The alert system, which began under Mayor Eric Adams, is set based on transmission rates and health care capacity in the city.
A "very high" alert level signifies the health care services are overwhelmed. Under that status, nonessential gatherings should be avoided, such as eating indoors at restaurants, social distancing should be practiced, and the government should consider making congregate settings less crowded and reimposing restrictions on nonessential activities, per city guidelines.
The seven-day positivity rate was 5.18% as of Monday in the city, according to a news release on Tuesday from Gov. Kathy Hochul's office. On Long Island, it was 10.79% and statewide it was 7.66%.
There were 8 deaths reported in the city on Monday, Hochul's office said, and 739 COVID-19 patients in city hospitals.
Adams has not ruled out reinstituting mandates such as requiring masking indoors and proof-of-vaccination for certain venues.
Patrick Gallahue, a health department spokesman, said there are no hard-and-fast metrics that would automatically trigger the reimposition of mitigation measures.
“To fight this wave we’re going to be a bit more flexible,” Gallahue wrote in an email.
Matthew Chayes, a Newsday reporter since 2007, covers New York City.
