NYC COVID Cases On Uptick As Weather Grows Colder: Data

NEW YORK CITY — Cold weather's return has reversed a weeks-long drop in coronavirus cases across New York City.

"Although hospitalizations remained low right now, we are seeing an uptick in cases in recent days," said Dave Chokshi, the city's health commissioner, on Monday. "We have anticipated that this might occur as the weather gets cooler and people spend more time indoors."

The city is averaging roughly 1,000 new COVID-19 cases a day — an increase from Nov. 1 when they hit 818, data shows.

The uptick raises the specter of another "holiday surge" of COVID-19 cases like the one that struck late last year and fueled the city's largest spike in overall cases.

But Chokshi emphasized the city has more tools to fight the coronavirus this year than last.

Vaccinations against COVID-19, masking, testing, staying home when ill, ventilation and hand hygiene and monoclonal antibody treatment are all defenses, he said.

And vaccine booster shots — which more than 630,000 New Yorkers have received so far — are another tool that all adult New Yorkers are now eligible for under a new health advisory, he said.

"What we're trying to clarify today is that there should be no barriers to accessing a booster shot, provided that someone is an adult, meaning 18 or older, and at least six months out from a Moderna or Pfizer second dose, or two months out from the J&J dose," he said.

The new advisory tells providers that they shouldn't turn away New Yorkers who want a booster, as well as reminding people they can get such a shot if they feel at risk.

"I view all New Yorkers, because of the density of our city, of being at higher risk," said Mitchell Katz, president and CEO of Health + Hospitals.