The state is “turning the corner with the winter wave,” Governor Kathy Hochul said Friday.
After a peak positivity rate of 23% on Jan. 3, it is now 16.3% and Covid-19 hospitalizations are also starting to decline, she said at a news conference.
“It’s still very high, but this will eventually catch up to the trend that has just started,” Hochul said.
She reported 49,027 new cases of Covid-19, adding that this is “a very positive trend” as the state reported more than 90,000 cases just a week ago.
Nearly two weeks ago, as New Yorkers returned to work after the New Year’s holiday, Hochul’s message was much grittier, warning that the state was “not in a good place” due to the rapid spread of the virus.
We fully anticipate on top of the wave that is already underway that another wave will come as a result of this holiday season,” she said on January 3.
On Friday, she added that residents should remain vigilant.
“Summary: things are going down, things are going around the corner and we have to stay vigilant. We’re not going to boost football, you understand?” said Hochul.
CDC updates mask guidance
Also, two years after the pandemic, more than 1 in 5 eligible Americans have not received a single dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“Masking is a critical public health tool to help prevent the spread of Covid-19, and it’s important to remember that any mask is better than no mask,” the CDC said in a statement.
The updated information recommends Americans wear the most protective mask or respirator they can find that fits properly.
At least one expert wished the guidance had come sooner.
“We’ve known for a year that Covid is in the air and the quality of masks is important,” said DailyExpertNews medical analyst and former City of Baltimore Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen.
“At least wear a surgical mask with a cloth mask on it. Just a single layer of cloth mask just isn’t enough. If the guidelines had changed months ago, we might not be where we are with Omicron,” she said. .
Study: Omicron is ‘inherently milder’ than Delta in children under 5
The preprint study found that the number of hospitalizations, ICU admissions and mechanical ventilation in children infected with Omicron was reduced by approximately 70% compared to children infected with Delta.
It also found a 29% reduction in emergency room visits.
About 1% of Omicron-infected children were hospitalized, compared to about 3% of children with Delta.
“Despite this encouraging result, further studies are needed to investigate the longer-term acute consequences of Omicron infection, the propensity to develop ‘prolonged COVID’, the rate of spread, the potential for mutation and how previous infections alter clinical responses. to follow.” study researchers wrote.
The study included about 7,000 children who were infected when the Omicron variant was predominant and about 63,000 children who were infected when the Delta variant was predominant.
Data on deaths were not included as few were reported.
Overall, Covid-19 deaths nationally have lagged behind the worst increase in the past winter, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. The US averaged 1,659 Covid-19 deaths per day in the past week, compared to a peak daily average of 3,402 on January 13, 2021.
Children’s hospitalizations at record high in Alabama
“In the crisis of higher virus transmission with the Omicron variant, immediate measures are critical,” said Dr. Wes Stubblefield, Alabama Department of Health District medical officer in a statement.
The department, in conjunction with the Alabama Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, is urging parents to minimize children’s exposure to the virus in schools and public places, wear well-fitting masks, and get vaccinated if they do. qualify for this.
The state’s largest school system is going virtual next week to tackle the rise in Covid-19 cases.
The number of positive cases has “made it difficult to staff many of our schools,” said Chresal Threadgill, Superintendent of Mobile County Public Schools.
While students are expected to return to class on January 24, that decision will be made taking into account the current Covid-19 figures.
There were 16,035 cases of Covid-19 in Alabama schools this week, with all but four counting 143 counties reporting.
Nationally, many school districts that have begun distance learning due to the high number of Covid-19 cases among students and staff are planning to return to face-to-face classes in the coming weeks.
Most schools in Philadelphia and New Jersey will reopen on Tuesday.
The Clark County School District, the largest in Nevada and the fourth largest in the US, is taking a hiatus to address the staff shortage, but hopes to resume in-person classes by mid-next week.
And Cincinnati’s public schools will be back in class on Jan. 24 if staff levels are sufficient to safely reopen schools, officials said.
DailyExpertNews’s Mirna Alsharif, Amy Simonson, Paradise Afshar, Deidre McPhillips, Virginia Langmaid and Elizabeth Stuart