U.K. MUTANT IN APPLE
More contagious COVID-19 strain infects 2
The U.K. strain of COVID is here.
Two cases of a more virulent coronavirus mutation were identified in two New York City residents — one in Manhattan and the other in Queens, city officials said Wednesday.
The two cases represent the first documented evidence of the strain in the Big Apple and heighten concerns that the more contagious variant could overwhelm hospitals.
“I’m very concerned about this variant,” Mayor de Blasio said. “We’re just at a point now where we have the opportunity to turn the corner because of the vaccine, and now we have this new challenge. I would absolutely urge people who are vulnerable to be very, very careful.”
De Blasio said the city’s Test and Trace Corps is now in contact with both of the people who tested positive. One of them recently traveled to the U.K., he noted.
The two COVID tests that led to identifying the strain were administered in late December, according to city Health Commissioner Dr. Dave Chokshi, who said evidence of the strain in those results was identified just hours before the city made the information public.
The two city residents are among 15 new cases throughout the state in which the U.K. strain was identified.
De Blasio pointed to the cases as even more reason for the federal government to shut down travel between Britain and the U.S.
“There should be an immediate travel ban from the United Kingdom to the United States,” he said. “Here’s proof positive — someone who was in the U.K. and has brought the variant back here. We need that stopped.”
On Tuesday, the federal government instituted testing guidelines that require people traveling from outside the U.S. by air to test negative for the virus no more than three days before departure. De Blasio acknowledged the guidelines, but said stricter rules should now be applied to the U.K.
“We’re really in a race against this virus,” said de Blasio’s senior public health adviser Dr. Jay Varma. “We need to reduce the
number of humans that are either infected with this virus, and in particular, those that are susceptible to it. That’s how viruses get a foothold and mutate.”
Only one of the city residents who tested positive for the strain is confirmed to have traveled to the United Kingdom.
The sobering news comes as New Yorkers who are eligible to get the vaccine continued to report difficulties in registering for it and receiving it and as the city continues to ramp up vaccination efforts.
De Blasio said Wednesday his administration is in talks with the Yankees to open up a vaccination hub at Yankee Stadium, a day after he announced with Mets’ owner Steve Cohen that Citi Field would serve as a hub.
And he acknowledged his own concerns over frustrations New
Yorkers have over their efforts to be vaccinated, but noted he’s much more concerned with the supply of doses coming from the federal government.
“If we don’t get more vaccine, there literally will not be appointments available after the next couple of weeks,” he said. “We must get resupplied on a much higher level.”
Gov. Cuomo offered similar concerns as the Jacob Javits Center, which previously served as a field hospital for COVID patients last spring, opened as a mass vaccination site on Wednesday.
“We are making the vaccine available based on federal guidance and are continuing to push it out the door quickly and efficiently, but due to the federal government’s limited allocation, appointments are filling up fast,” Cuomo said. “At the end of the day, this is a supply issue and we need the federal government to provide us with more vaccine as quickly as possible because there is simply not enough and this is the weapon that will win the war.”
Cuomo added that of the 15 cases of the highly contagious U.K. strain discovered statewide, four cases in Saratoga County and two in Warren County have been identified as part of a cluster connected to a jewelry store in Saratoga Springs.
The discovery of more cases of the new variant comes as New York reported a record high 14,577 new coronavirus cases.
A total of 8,929 New Yorkers are currently hospitalized with COVID, including 1,501 being treated in intensive-care units. Another 165 people died of the virus on Tuesday.
With Denis Slattery