HV COVID-19 Hospitalizations Quadruple Since Halloween

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — As the omicron variant sweeps through New York, the number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 in the Hudson Valley has quadrupled since Halloween.

In the region as of Dec. 19, there were 399 patients hospitalized with the disease caused by the coronavirus. On Oct. 31, there were 115 people hospitalized with COVID-19.

Statewide, New York reported 4,020 hospitalized COVID-19 patients, compared to 1,856 on Oct. 31.

The state reported 104 cases per 100,000 residents as of Tuesday; officials said that was now a more accurate way to look at the pandemic than the percentage of people testing positive for the coronavirus, as so many people are now doing home tests and positive results are not uniformly reported.

In the Hudson region, the 7-day rolling average as of Tuesday was:

• Putnam - 97.7 cases per 100,000 residents
• Sullivan - 87.8 cases per 100K
• Westchester - 87.55 cases per 100K
• Orange - 86.06 cases per 100K
• Dutchess - 69.02 cases per 100K
• Rockland - 74 cases per 100K
• Ulster - 49.43 cases per 100K

The level of cases in the Hudson Valley is similar to this time last year, according to state data:

"Cases are rising due to the winter surge, but this is not March 2020 — we knew this was coming and New York is taking action to make vaccines, boosters, and testing more widely available," Gov. Kathy Hochul said in her pandemic briefing Tuesday. "We know what works — get vaccinated, get the booster, mask up, and exercise caution in indoor public spaces. Now is the time for all of us to do our part and help protect those more vulnerable to make sure we all get through this holiday season safely."

The data continues to show the effectiveness of the vaccine, state health department officials said, both for so-called "breakthrough" cases and hospitalizations due to COVID-19.

As of Dec. 13, the New York State Department of Health reported:

• 226,972 laboratory-confirmed breakthrough cases of COVID-19 among fully-vaccinated people in New York State, which corresponds to 1.8 percent of the population of fully-vaccinated people aged 12 and up.
• 12,916 hospitalizations with COVID-19 among fully-vaccinated people in New York State, which corresponds to 0.10 percent of the population of fully-vaccinated people 12 and up.

MORE READING:

• Omicron Cases Explode In New York: See Latest CDC Data
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• Dutchess County Distributing COVID-19 Test Kits, Masks
• Vassar To Require Booster Shots Before Spring Semester