Hochul hopeful as she encourages New Yorkers to stay the course against Covid

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul speaks at an event

Gov. Kathy Hochul speaks at an event in a file photo.Mary Altaffer | AP Photo

By Denis Slattery | New York Daily News

Albany, N.Y. — A hopeful Gov. Hochul called on New Yorkers to keep up their guard against Covid even as the state’s current Omicron-fueled surge begins to wane.

For the second day in a row, the governor offered a “glimmer” of cautious optimism as case numbers leveled off and even fell in some areas of the state. Still, she said, ensuring eligible kids are immunized and getting booster shots remains a top priority.

“The slowdown in new cases gives us a glimmer of hope, but cases still remain high and we are nowhere near the end of the winter surge,” Governor Hochul said. “Let’s not undo all of the hard work we’ve put in to get to this point.”

The daily statewide positivity rate fell to 17.37% on Tuesday, while the seven-day average dropped slightly to 20.22%.

Overburdened hospitals remain a major concern as Omicron continues to spread upstate and the number of people being treated for the virus jumped by 131 to 12,671, according to state data.

New York recorded another 166 Covid deaths, bringing the grim pandemic total to nearly 50,000 residents since early 2020.

According to the state, the Omicron variant now represents more than 95% of the viruses in circulation.

Hochul encouraged New Yorkers to get fully vaccinated and schedule booster shots if they haven’t already as she again called on parents to get kids inoculated as the state experiences a frightening spike in pediatric hospitalizations.

A day earlier, the governor noted that the state’s rate of pediatric hospitalizations in children ages 5 to 11 increased by more than 300% in the last three weeks of December.

Children over 5 have been approved for jabs since early November, but Hochul highlighted that a reported 68% of children between 5 and 11 in New York State have not received a single shot.

“Please make sure to get your second dose and booster shot. Parents and guardians, the best way to protect our children is to get them vaccinated and boosted, once they’re eligible,” Hochul said. “And let’s continue to use the tools we know will help stop the spread: Wear a non-cloth mask and stay home if you’re feeling sick.”

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