Hospitalizations up 12% from last year as virus keeps raging

The Empire State reported another round of jarring coronavirus figures on Tuesday, as hospitals continue to swell with patients.

The count of New Yorkers hospitalized with the virus reached 10,411, a figure 12% higher than last year’s winter peak, according to Gov. Hochul’s office. The hospitalization tally first eclipsed its 2021 high on Monday.

But in two shreds of welcome news on Tuesday, the daily death count dropped to 99 from 103 on Monday, and the daily test positivity rate slipped to 22.5% from 23.2% the day before, according to state data.

Daily data points are jittery, and officials focus on weeklong positivity rates, but the latest round of figures could signal that the brutal omicron wave has crested or will soon.

South Africa, which faced an early encounter with the fast-spreading omicron strain, saw a stunning rise in cases followed by a swift decline. In London, where an omicron wave drove a dizzying surge just days ahead of New York, case counts have begun to plateau.

New York may still be days, or even weeks, away from its winter COVID apex. And the virus figures to continue to stretch thin-staffed hospitals and rattle emergency services.

“It’s possible that this is the peak, but it’s possible that the peak might last for a little while,” said Nathan Landau, a virologist at NYU. “It’s not like it peaks and then all of a sudden starts dropping. It could stay high for several days.”

The seven-day positivity rate in the Bronx was a remarkable 28% on Tuesday and still rising. Overall, New York City’s weeklong positivity rate sat at 22.5%, while most upstate regions had lower — but still sky-high — COVID clips.

Long Island’s seven-day test positivity rate was the highest of any region in New York State — more than 25%.

The state logged 53,276 new cases on Tuesday. That tally peaked at 85,476 on New Year’s Day, when the daily positivity rate was 22.2% and overall testing rates were higher.

“The best way to protect ourselves and our children from getting hospitalized with COVID is with the vaccine and booster,” Gov. Hochul said in a statement. “Get your second dose and booster when eligible, get your children vaccinated, remember to wear a mask and stay home if you’re not feeling well.”

The fast-spreading omicron strain has jolted the nation with its nimble transmission and has sent scores of unvaccinated New Yorkers into hospital beds. The variant is putting intense stress on schools, transportation systems and shortstaffed businesses.

But inoculations provide significant protection against severe outcomes from the variant, creating hopes that the pandemic may fizzle after the omicron reign.

“This will be a tough few weeks ahead for the whole country,” Landau said. “But there is a light at the end of the tunnel.”