The daily number of COVID-19 positives exceeded 20,000 cases in the state of New York for the second day in a row, according to data from Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office released on Saturday (12/18/2021).
The most recent registry referring to the previous 24 hours collected 21,908 positive cases (out of 290,930 reported), while in yesterday’s registry there were 21,027 (out of 263,536 reported).
The percentage of positivity does not stop increasing in the city and the state: if two weeks ago it was 4.87%, yesterday it rose to 6.58% and today to 7.98%, despite the new measures implemented in the past Monday to make the mask mandatory in most closed places, including offices.
The concern is palpable in the streets, and thus, the queues to get PCR or antigen tests, which are offered free at mobile street stalls, have been several hundred meters in recent days, which is causing the results to be delayed up to 48 hours.
And despite all these signs, Governor Hochul sent a message of reassurance: “This is not like the beginning of the pandemic. We are prepared for winter, with tools at our disposal,” and recalled the trio of most effective measures: vaccine , reinforcement and mask.
Until now, the city of New York, which receives a large number of tourists at Christmas holidays, in which commerce also adds the largest figures, has been reluctant to apply restrictive measures that imply any limitation to commercial activities , restaurants or entertainment venues.
Just yesterday, Mayor Bill de Blasio confirmed that the end-of-the-year festivities that crowd the mythical Times Square every December 31st, because – he assured – all attendees must show proof of vaccination even if it has to be requested. to a million people, he noted.
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