omicron

The unprecedented infectiousness of XBB.1.5 prompted renewed calls for public caution Friday from New York City health officials, who announced the latest omicron descendant, widely believed to be behind the latest case wave, now accounts for nearly three-quarters of all coronavirus circulating across the five boroughs. Calling the new strain “the most transmissible COVID variant we know of to date,”…

COVID-19 hospitalizations in New York and New Jersey have soared to 11-month highs as the most transmissible variant yet, a combination of two prior omicron strains, fuels yet another infection wave nearly three full years into the pandemic, the latest federal health data show. Deaths are also climbing, with weekly fatality reports for both states currently at their highest levels…

The new most transmissible-yet COVID variant prompting renewed global wariness in recent weeks continues to assert its dominance in the New York City area, while the latest CDC data published Friday indicates a loosening grip on the nation as a whole. That XBB.1.5 strain, another omicron descendant, is a highly contagious “recombinant” one spawned from two prior, and different omicron…

COVID positivity rates in parts of New York City are now over 30%, as the most transmissible variant of the virus yet rages through the region, sparking international concern. The rolling seven-day positivity rate in Brooklyn’s East Flatbush section is up to 30.43%, according to the latest city data. And other boroughs are nearly as bad – positivity rates top…

A new most transmissible-yet COVID variant has established dominance in the New York area, fueling rising infection rates across the five boroughs as a looming nurses’ strike and ongoing concerns about RSV in kids stoke fresh anxiety about the years-long pandemic. That XBB.1.5 strain, another omicron descendant, is a highly contagious “recombinant” one spawned from two prior, and different omicron…

The CDC said the new COVID-19 variant is responsible for 75% of new cases.

When Covid-19 took away Julie Carty’s sense of smell, she was devastated. But then things got even worse. Suddenly, everything and everyone in her life smelled awful. Julie had developed a condition called Parosmia, and her life hasn’t been the same since.

New York City’s strictest-in-the-nation COVID vaccine mandate covering the private sector is officially over as of Tuesday, following last week’s health board vote to drop the nearly year-old program amid ongoing pandemic progress. The decision to end the order implemented by former Mayor Bill de Blasio in the waning days of his administration was unanimous, as was health leaders’...

The board also voted to end the vaccine rule for school extra-curricular activities. The changes take effect on Nov. 1.

Two new COVID-19 variants that quietly emerged on the scene over the last few weeks — ones that Dr. Anthony Fauci has described as “pretty troublesome” — are becoming increasingly prevalent in the New York area and stoking fresh concerns as the nation braces for yet another potential winter surge, the latest CDC data shows. You may not have heard…

The New York City Health Commissioner Ashwin Vasan encouraged people to continue getting vaccinated to keep numbers down, Erica Byfield reports.

The U.S. on Wednesday authorized updated COVID-19 boosters for children as young as 5, seeking to expand protection ahead of an expected winter wave.

Pfizer is asking the Food and Drug Administration to expand use of its updated COVID-19 booster shot to children ages 5 to 11.

Newly updated COVID vaccine booster shots designed to target omicron’s wildly contagious BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants are now available in New York City, but initial eligibility is limited to those covered by guidance from the CDC. For now, anyone 12 or older who got their last COVID vaccine at least two months ago is eligible for the omicron booster, city…

A day after New York’s governor announced the immediate end of mask mandates on public buses, subways and railroads — and in stations — across the state, the NYC Ferry says it is on board, too. Gov. Kathy Hochul said Wednesday the years-long COVID requirement had ended for the MTA as well as in for-hire vehicles, airports, homeless shelters, correctional…

President Joe Biden will deliver remarks on Thursday highlighting arrival of new COVID-19 vaccine boosters that have been updated to target the most common omicron strains currently in circulation.

Newly updated COVID vaccine booster shots designed to target omicron’s wildly contagious BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants are now available in New York, but initial eligibility is limited to those covered by guidance from the CDC, the governor’s office announced Wednesday. First up are people 12 years and older who are at least two months past their previous booster or...

New York’s governor on Wednesday announced an end to a years-long COVID-19 rule that people had largely stopped heeding, and officials had stopped enforcing, months ago. The MTA mask mandate implemented at the start of the pandemic is over, Gov. Kathy Hochul said. The rule also ends in for-hire vehicles, airports, homeless shelters, correctional facilities and detention centers statewide....

The White House says getting a COVID shot will become a yearly tradition, much like the flu shot. Brian Thompson reports.

The CDC voted Thursday to recommend updated versions of both the Pfizer and Moderna coronavirus vaccine boosters, paving way for a widespread rollout as early as next week.