Slight Uptick In COVID Cases Due To New Variant: Hochul

LONG ISLAND, NY — The new omicron sub-variant BA.2 has led to a slight uptick in new cases statewide, Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a briefing Monday.

"This sub-variant is going to be something we're watching closely. We're not being alarmist about it," Hochul said. "We're just transmitting the information as we get it. But the number one basic way to deal with this right now is if anyone feels symptoms at all, just get tested immediately."

Hochul said the state has never taken its foot off the gas when it comes to preparedness.

According to Health Commissioner Dr. Mary Bassett: "It's no surprise to us that we are seeing COVID cases tick up.

Sunday's data, she said, that New York City, "the COVID gateway for our state" has gone up relative to the past seven days. The seven-day average a week ago was 8 per 100,000. It's now up to 11, she said.

"These are very low numbers. These numbers are small, but we have seen some small relative upticks across the state," Bassett said.

At this point, even with the rise in cases in the BA.2, which is a sub-lineage of the omicron variant, state officials don't expect to see a steep surge in cases in New York State, Bassett said.

"At the moment, BA.2 comprises about 42 percent of all the cases here in the state. It has been rising over the past couple of months, but we have not seen the kind of rate of growth and this dominance that we've seen in the UK and in Europe. BA.2 is more transmissible as you know, than the original variant, but it does not appear to cause more severe illness and it doesn't appear to have any more ability to evade the vaccination immunity."

Bassett urged those who are concerned to get boosted.

Dr. Kirsten St. George, who is director of virology and chief of the laboratory of viral diseases at the Wadsworth Center, said scientists at the Wadsworth Center Lab are constantly analyzing test results from across the state.

"Since the end of January, more than 99.5 percent of the sequences identified have been of the omicron variant in New York State. The most recent data show, as Dr. Bassett just mentioned, that 42 percent of those omicron sequences are the new BA.2 variant," she said.

She added that the increase in the proportion of BA.2 has increased more slowly in New York and elsewhere in the U.S. than in many other countries.

Hochul also put the numbers in context: There are reports that Thursday's 30 percent increase in cases are results of the omicron BA.2 sub-variant, she said.

"When you go from 8 cases per 100,000 to 11 cases per 100,000, yes, it is 30 percent, but it was just a few months ago, we had over 400 cases per 100,000," Hochul said. "We're being very diligent in making sure that we monitor the numbers in case the numbers do start increasing."

The state's overall positivity rate is 2 percent, compared to 23 percent in January, Hochul said. Six people died on Sunday, she said; 900-plus remain hospitalized statewide, she said.

Hochul emphasized the need for boosters, with only 56 percent of the population boosted that are eligible; her concern centers on those over 65, the governor said.

Also, Hochul said officials are watching for news of a fourth dose. "I'm very anxious to get that approval, if that's determined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to be the next best defense against this variant. And as soon as it's signed off on, we'll be out there."

Testing remains critical, Hochul said.

"This is the message to New Yorkers. We've learned a lot. We know how to handle this. We are not in an alarmist mode," Hochul said. "We're not panicking over this. We're just watching the numbers and want to make sure everyone knows what we know at the same time. So vaccines will continue to be critical tools. Stay vigilant."