NYC health officials REINSTATE face mask advisory indoors and in crowds as all five boroughs enter ‘high’ covid alert
New York City health officials have re-instated advice for face masks to be worn in all indoor areas and in crowds because of rising Covid cases.
In the announcement Friday, health chiefs said the advice applied regardless of whether someone was vaccinated and recommended using high quality N95 masks.
All five of New York’s boroughs are now in the ‘high-risk’ category, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), meaning masks are recommended.
It comes amid the arrival of Omicron variants BA.4 and BA.5 which are more transmissible than previous strains and better able to dodge immunity.
But there is no evidence that either strain is more likely to cause severe disease or death than other versions of Omicron.
New Yorkers are being told to mask up again indoors and when near crowds outdoors to protect themselves against Covid
In the update today, the city’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene said: ‘We’re currently seeing high levels of Covid in NYC.
‘To help slow the spread, all New Yorkers should wear a high-quality mask, such as an N95, KN95 or KF94 in all public indoor settings and around crowds outside.’
Masking rules have remained in place on the city’s public transport system, and some museums, throughout this spring and summer.
All five boroughs — Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island — were in ‘high’ Covid alert in the second half of May.
They moved to a moderate risk during June, but this month have now moved back into the ‘red’ area.
NYC’s masking advice is based on the alert levels from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Areas are moved to high Covid alert if the number of Covid admissions per 100,000 people heads above 20, or the percentage of beds filled with Covid patients is above 15 percent.
But this measure does not take account of patients who were admitted for another illness — such as a fall — but then tested positive for the virus.
The CDC says that when an area moves to ‘high’ risk people should wear masks indoors, and ensure they have got their Covid vaccines.
It also advises maintaining ventilation through indoor spaces where possible.
Official data for New York City shows that over the last seven days the infection rate has risen to about 297 cases per 100,000 people — up 18 percent from a fortnight ago.
Manhattan has the highest infection rate (338), followed by Staten Island (333) and Queens (331).
But these numbers are likely an underestimate because many people with symptoms are not getting tested.
The positivity rate — the proportion of swabs that detect the virus — currently stands at 15 percent, far above the recommended limit from the World Health Organization.
Data also shows about 79 people are being hospitalized with Covid every day, with around six percent of hospital beds occupied by patients with the disease.
The city is also currently recording seven deaths a day on average, down by a third on the 11 a day being registered a week ago.