Officials said a virus variant first found in New York City may be more contagious.

COVID variant accounts for 39 percent of city’s lab samples

A COVID-19 variant that was first detected in New York City now accounts for about

2 in 5 coronavirus cases in the city, suggesting that it spreads more easily than the older strain of the virus, city health officials said Wednesday.

But the officials said they have seen no evidence that the New York City variant is deadlier or more vaccine resistant than earlier forms of the virus.

Health Commissioner Dr. Dave Chokshi said data from the city’s pandemic response lab shows that the New York variant accounted for 39 percent of virus samples analyzed during the most recent week, up from 31 percent the week before.

Chokshi said the variant first detected in the United Kingdom accounted for 12 percent of New York City cases, up from 8 percent the week before.

“Viruses are wily. They adapt and change, which affects what circulates in our communities,” he said.

Speaking on the day that

The nation’s top infectious disease expert said the U.S. could see significant steps toward a return to the pre-pandemic normal, even before the country reaches coronavirus herd immunity.

Dr. Anthony Fauci said best estimates for having enough immunity to end the outbreak range from 70 percent to 85 percent of the population — a figure expected to be attained by late summer or early fall.

He said as the pace of vaccination ramps up and the most vulnerable to the virus are protected, some government restrictions could be lifted.

CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky cautioned only about 10 percent of the population is fully vaccinated, but her agency anticipated loosening federal guidelines as more people receive shots.

COVID-19 vaccine eligibility in New York state was expanded to include everyone over 60 plus certain categories of public employees, the health officials urged New Yorkers to meet the challenge of a constantly mutating coronavirus by adhering to virus protocols such as mask-wearing and by getting vaccinated.

Dr. Jay Varma, senior health adviser to Mayor Bill de Blasio, said the science is clear “that if we take all of those individual precautions that are necessary, and we get vaccinated, we can win.”

De Blasio said the city has administered almost 2.5 million doses since the vaccination effort began in December.

Also on Wednesday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that New York

City restaurants will be permitted to fill half of their seats starting March 19. In other developments:

Alaska has dropped restrictions on who can get a COVID-19 vaccination, opening eligibility to anyone 16 or older who lives or works in the state.

Georgia will expand COVID-19 vaccine eligibility starting Monday to everyone 55 and older, plus younger adults with serious health conditions, Gov. Brian Kemp said.

Florida Gov. Ron Desantis says that after the state makes people 60 and older eligible for the COVID vaccine next Monday, it will soon drop the age to 55 and then probably open it up to the rest.