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NEW YORK — The Omicron BA.5 subvariant is fueling a brand new COVID surge within the U.S., and for a lot of the instances are reinfections.
The CDC says the extremely transmissible subvariant now accounts for many of all new instances within the nation.
Beginning Thursday, New York Metropolis is increasing its community of at-home check distribution websites. They may now embody 57 parks and swimming pools, going the place individuals go in the summertime warmth.
Mayor Eric Adams says this may assist give New Yorkers reassurance inside minutes, particularly as the brand new subvariant takes over.
From Washington, D.C. to New York Metropolis, authorities and well being officers are sounding the alarm concerning the fast-spreading BA.5 subvariant. They’re even alerting of us who had COVID just lately they are not immune.
“So what we’re seeing is individuals who acquired contaminated in January, February, March, they’re getting reinfected at very, very excessive charges,” Dr. Ashish Jha informed CBS Mornings.
Well being leaders say BA.5 is probably the most infectious and transmissible subvariant but, even infecting people who find themselves vaccinated and boosted.
The White Home COVID response coordinator stated those that have not gotten the photographs are getting very sick.
“People who find themselves vaccinated and boosted even have breakthrough infections. The excellent news right here, is that people who find themselves boosted and having breakthrough infections, they are not getting significantly sick. So that is the essential half is that we’re nonetheless stopping critical sickness in of us,” Dr. Jha stated.
FIND TESTING SITES: Click on right here for New York Metropolis’s testing web site locator, together with cell websites and at-home appointments
AVOID THE LINES: Click on right here for NYC Well being+Hospitals testing wait occasions
The brand new subvariant now accounts for 65% of all new instances within the U.S. and is driving up instances in lots of areas, together with New York, the place the seven-day common positivity fee is barely over 15%.
Numbers from July 12 present Lengthy Island hitting practically 11%, and total the state is at greater than 9%.
“The virus is mutating so rapidly and quickly, it’s altering so dramatically,” stated Dr. Celine Gounder. “Your immune system can have a more durable time preventing off this present wave.”
Requested if we’re bracing for an additional surge, Dr. Gounder replied, “We’re already seeing a rise in hospitalizations.”
“The excellent news is that fewer persons are ending up within the ICU,” she continued.
Docs say we should stay vigilant.
“My largest concern is that persons are simply exhausted with COVID,” Dr. Gounder stated. “That they are not going to do the opposite issues that we all know will forestall an infection and transmission, issues like masking, opening home windows.”
This comes because the FDA has now given emergency use authorization to the protein-based Novavax coronavirus vaccine. The transfer paves the best way for a fourth possibility for the ten% of American adults who have not but acquired a dose of some other vaccine.
The CDC and FDA might quickly replace their steering on boosters for all People.
CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC
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