(Washington Insider Magazine) -New York City is experiencing simultaneous and unusually high increases in COVID-19 and other seasonal infections, especially influenza (flu) and RSV.
The Christmas and New Years holidays this year seem to have been a long time coming. Between the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and the rise of omicron in 2021, it feels like this joyous season has been taken from us for two years in a row.
While we are so grateful that New Yorkers are able to gather with friends and loved ones, we all now know that assessing risks to ourselves and others is essential to personal and community health and well-being.
And the truth is that this holiday season, New York City is experiencing simultaneous and unusually large increases in COVID-19 and other seasonal infections, especially influenza (flu) and RSV.
The flu has been spreading particularly early and is hitting people very hard.
So we must take precautions to protect each other.
A couple of weeks ago, I issued a Health Advisory urging New York City residents to wear high-quality masks when indoors and in crowded outdoor settings. This is especially important for people who are at higher risk of complications from COVID-19, RSV, or the flu, such as people older than 65 and the immunocompromised.
The Notice also strongly recommends that people six months of age and older get their primary series of COVID-19 vaccinations if they have not already done so and should receive the updated bivalent COVID-19 booster vaccine if eligible. Get your booster and a flu shot at the same time.
As we ask New Yorkers to do their part, as a City we are developing our plans to be ready this season.
COVID Related Data
This includes detailed tracking of data on cases, hospitalizations, and deaths from COVID-19, influenza, and RSV, including emergency room usage and available space in hospitals and intensive care units.
We are looking at trends and changes in the data, such as a large increase in cases in a short period of time in New York City. We are also looking at New York City and global data on variants of COVID-19 so we can quickly respond to any variants that may cause more severe illness or spread faster.
Also, we’re making it as easy as possible for New Yorkers to protect one another by hosting community events that offer the COVID-19 and flu vaccine. In the last three months, the Department of Health has organized more than 50 events where more than 2,000 flu shots and 800 boosters were administered.
This is in addition to 187 mobile clinics in congregate settings such as shelters and supportive housing, where more than 1,400 booster shots and 100 primary vaccination series have been administered since September.
During the month of November, we partnered with 67 community organizations to engage more than 83,000 community members in 917 in-person, street-level outreach events.
We also held 122 in-person community conversations and 29 virtual community conversations. Through these efforts, we made more than 24,000 referrals for immunizations, more than 6,000 referrals for testing, and nearly 39,000 referrals for other health and social services.
Risks of Illness
We will also focus on those most at risk of severe illness by:
Call people 65 and older with positive tests for immediate access to Paxlovid. Through the COVID Outreach Program, our nurses have seen 31,559 sick New Yorkers 65 and older.
We are also sending out text messages to remind people to get their bivalent booster.
And we ask that all health care providers communicate with their patients who are at increased risk of serious illness.
New York City is at its best when we all come together. Sometimes the best way to be together is to stay apart. For people who are sick: Stay home, avoid close contact with others, and talk to a provider about testing, care, and treatment. It is recommended to call a provider or call 212-COVID19 to inquire about treatment.
We can bond with our friends, neighbors, and loved ones in other ways, too. Call and check to see if people you know may be sick or alone on vacation.
Finally, let’s not forget mental well-being. Whether it’s the stress of finding gifts, organizing gatherings, being alone, remembering those we’ve lost, or the many other things that can trigger the holidays, remember to take care of yourself.
This article is written by Dr. Ashwin Vasan
