With cases of Covid-19, flu, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) rising, New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan reminded New Yorkers to stay safe heading into the holidays by staying up to date with vaccinations, masking in indoor public settings when possible, testing regularly, and staying home if sick. The city also announced that flu and RSV testing, as well as Tamiflu prescriptions, are now available at 50 NYC Health + Hospitals’ Test to Treat units. Finally, beginning this week, updated Covid-19 Pfizer vaccines will be available to children from six months to four years old at all of the city’s 11 public hospitals. Data shows that this year, flu cases in New York City are already higher than they were during the peak of the last four flu seasons. Additionally, over the past month, the seven-day average of confirmed and probable cases of Covid-19 increased, as did cases of RSV.
“When Covid-19 hit New York City almost three years ago, New Yorkers looked out for each other and followed the advice of our health experts,” said Mayor Adams. “With the holiday season in full swing and cases of Covid-19, flu, and RSV rising, we are asking New Yorkers to protect themselves and their loved ones once again. Mask up, get tested, get treated if you’re eligible, and, if you haven’t gotten your flu shot or your Covid-19 booster, we encourage you to roll up your sleeve. We are stepping up our efforts to get the tools to stay safe into as many New Yorkers’ hands as possible, and, together, we will have a happy and healthy holiday season.”
“As we enter our third holiday season with Covid-19, we need to keep taking the precautions that keep us and our loved ones healthy,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom. “I encourage all eligible New Yorkers to keep up with their vaccinations, to utilize free testing resources available citywide, to wear masks as advised, to stay home if sick, and to maintain good hand hygiene. The holiday season is a wonderful time of year to gather with friends and family, and we want to embrace our loved ones this year knowing we have taken all the steps possible to keep us all safe and healthy.”
“We want everyone to have a happy and healthy holiday,” said DOHMH Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan. “The Health Department will be closely tracking transmission, variants, and health system capacity, and is making resources easily available, so you know where to turn to protect yourself and each other.”
“The last few years have been really tough, and the city has your back with the resources and guidance to safely enjoy the company of your loved ones this year,” said Dr. Ted Long, executive director, NYC Test & Treat Corps. “We have 75 first-in-the-country mobile Test to Treat units and, overall, more than 330 sites where you can get tested or take away free home tests. Get tested before you gather so that you have a healthy and happy holiday – you deserve it!”
“We are very pleased to make available to our youngest patients the updated, bivalent Covid-19 vaccine,” said Andrew B. Wallach, ambulatory care chief medical officer, NYC Health + Hospitals, MD, FACP. “These updated, bivalent vaccines offer the best protection against the current variants of the Covid-19 virus circulating in our communities. Further, they are safe and effective and prevent hospitalization and death from Covid-19.”
