As summer kicks off, the number of COVID-19 cases across the country has seen a considerable spike compared to rates during cooler months of the year. Specifically in New York City, the rise in cases, coupled with a looming mask ban on subways, could present a significant threat to public health.
Cases of the coronavirus are most likely increasing in as many as 39 states and aren’t declining anywhere in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Covid infections typically spike during the summer months, partially due to increased rates of travel, along with people congregating indoors where it’s cooler.
While the CDC no longer tracks Covid cases, it does estimate transmission based on emergency department visits. Based on these estimates, both Covid deaths and ED visits have risen in the past week, and hospitalizations have risen to 25% from May 26 to June 1.
Several variants are likely contributing to the countrywide spikes, including KP.2, KP.3, and LB.1. These strains reportedly have an advantage over the others and are descendants of JN.1, the version of the coronavirus that spread at high rates this winter.
Last Month, KP.2 became the dominant variant in the U.S., and then KP.3 , along with KP.1.1, a third variant which shares the same mutations, became more prominent in early June. This group accounts for around 63% of Covid infections in the U.S., with some scientists referring to the strains as “FLiRT,” indicating their amino acid changes.
Meanwhile in New York City, Governor Kathy Hochul announced earlier this month that she was considering instating a ban on face masks worn in the subways as a method of preventing people from committing ‘anti-semitic’ and other prejudiced acts while concealing their identities.
“I think the governor has gotten ahead of herself,” said Michael Gianaris, a Queens Democrat and the State Senate’s deputy majority leader, of the ban proposal. “This is not something that has been seriously discussed with the Legislature. I think it’s a very serious proposal with all sorts of ramifications that may be unrelated to what she’s trying to get at.” One of the repercussions might be to further contribute to the spread of Covid amid the spike.
While Hochul did disclose that the ban would include exemptions for health, cultural, and religious reasons, many New Yorkers have argued that the ban would be fruitless and impractical during a time where contracting Covid is still a real risk for vulnerable people.
