New York City officials reported a spike in the number of coronavirus cases in the region as experts warn residents to be cautious amid the spread of the EG.5 variant dominating the United States.
Summer marks the season when respiratory viruses usually spread much faster than other seasons, and this is also the case with COVID-19's new strain, which has become the most prevalent in the country.
New York City Experiences COVID-19 Spike
While the EG.5 variant is similar to the Omicron strain, scientists warn that it can more easily evade immunity. Experts also noted that residents in New York City who have already been vaccinated or infected in the past have some protection. However, they noted that they should still be careful and avoid contact with vulnerable people.
Many families in Flushing, Queens, were out on a sunny Saturday to enjoy the outdoors, playing with their kids and feeding ducks in the area. However, some people were wary of the coronavirus, with Mariela Sanchez at the park with her children saying that her parents were sick for about a week before recovering, as per the Hindustan Times.
Sanchez's statement referred to the latest surge of coronavirus cases found in New York City, which experts have said is driven by the EG.5 variant. The city's health department reported that 594 people contracted the COVID-19 virus in the last seven days as of Monday, most of which came from the Bronx and Queens.
Additionally, officials reported that the highest infection rates were found in various areas, such as Flushing and Clearview. In a statement, the vice president of the Center for Global Health of Northwell Health, Dr. Eric Cioe Pena, said that the new variant looks like Omicron but can do more immunity.
Eric also said that because of the city's high vaccination and infection rates, he expects hospitalizations and deaths from the coronavirus to remain relatively low. However, he warned that the virus is not the only respiratory virus that is spreading this summer, noting that there is an increase in cases of hand-foot-mouth disease.
New Coronavirus Strain
According to CBS News, Pena warned that if residents are feeling sick with any of the prevalent respiratory viruses, they should avoid coming into contact with people who are immunocompromised or those who are considered medically fragile.
One mother in the area, Aishia Ibrahim, said she would not be taking any chances as her six-year-old child is still recovering after getting infected by the coronavirus two years ago. She said her kid easily gets tired, even after running with her friends for a little bit.
The situation comes after the World Health Organization (WHO) classified the EG.5 COVID-19 strain as a "variant of interest." This means that it possesses genetic changes that provide an advantage and that its prevalence is growing.
A professor of molecular microbiology and immunology at Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Andrew Pekosz, said that while concern is on the rise, the new variant does not look that much different from what has already been circulating in the U.S. for the past three to four months, said the New York Times.
