NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — New York state and metropolis leaders are taking motion to arrange for the Omicron variant.
Gov. Kathy Hochul tweeted Monday, saying it’s “not a query of if it involves New York, however when.”
READ MORE: Biden Says Omicron Variant Is ‘Cause For Concern, Not A Cause For Panic’
“Omicron is simply throughout the bridge in Ontario. It’s not a query of if it involves New York, however when,” the governor posted. “To everybody who has not but been vaccinated, and particularly these in Western New York: There’s no purpose to attend. Get vaccinated.”
Throughout her afternoon press briefing, Hochul mentioned the state is monitoring the scenario all over the world.
“We aren’t defenseless, like we have been one yr in the past,” she mentioned.
She urged New Yorkers to get vaccinated after which get their booster pictures.
Omicron is simply throughout the bridge in Ontario. It’s not a query of if it involves New York, however when.
To everybody who has not but been vaccinated, and particularly these in Western New York: There’s no purpose to attend. Get vaccinated. https://t.co/U004upgdHD
— Kathy Hochul (@GovKathyHochul) November 29, 2021
Mayor Bill de Blasio echoed the governor, saying whereas there aren’t any circumstances within the metropolis, the variant might arrive within the coming days.
“Our well being management has been in fixed contact with federal authorities and state authorities, everybody sharing data,” he mentioned. “We’re going to battle again Omicron and, most instantly, proceed preventing the Delta variant. That’s really the problem we’re coping with right here and now.”
Well being Commissioner Dr. Chokshi issued a masks advisory Monday, “strongly recommending” New Yorkers to put on masks always when inside in public settings. He mentioned that features people who find themselves vaccinated or those that had already had COVID.
“Like at your grocery, in constructing lobbies, places of work and retail shops,” he mentioned.
Dr. Chokshi additionally inspired individuals to get examined, particularly after vacation journey and gatherings.
Mayor-elect Eric Adams joined the mayor and well being commissioner for Monday’s briefing.
“I imagine that we’re seeing a transparent message being despatched to New Yorkers that the vaccine is our most potent weapon,” he mentioned. “However our coordination is an in depth second to that, and we’re going to have that coordination.”
WATCH: Mayor De Blasio’s Each day Briefing On New ‘Omicron’ Variant
READ MORE: Omicron Variant: 1st North American Case Detected In Ontario
This comes as nations all over the world are racing to arrange, and well being consultants are studying extra in regards to the new variant. Dr. Anthony Fauci says it has a level of mutations and seems to be extremely transmissible.
“The issues that we don’t know proper now could be whether or not the individuals who do get contaminated have a extreme type of illness or whether or not it’s a light-weight illness, or considerably the identical as Delta,” he mentioned.
He mentioned it’ll take about two weeks to get deal with on it. Nevertheless, vaccines appear to offer a level of safety.
Whereas speedy lockdowns received’t be doubtless, some journey bans at the moment are in place. The U.S. issued one for eight international locations in southern Africa, the place Omicron was first detected.
Dr. Fauci believes it’ll purchase scientists a while.
“The rationale you do a journey ban is just not that you just suppose naively that you just’re going to maintain it out, but it surely buys you a few weeks,” he mentioned.
COVID VACCINE
Whereas many simply had probably the most regular Thanksgiving since 2019, some concern extra journey bans are on the horizon as we head into the vacations.
Fortunate for the Ortez household from Queens, they simply reunited with the 88-year-old dad from Chile after greater than two years.
“It’s powerful, it’s powerful, particularly when you’ve gotten family members elsewhere,” Monica Ortez, of Far Rockaway, mentioned.
De Blasio mentioned he believes a vaccine mandate must be in place for all vacationers.
In terms of the masks advisory, he mentioned it isn’t a mandate, as a result of he would moderately focus efforts on rising town’s vaccination fee. Proper now, 88% of adults have obtained not less than one dose.
MORE NEWS: US Officials: Only A Matter Of Time Before Omicron COVID Variant Found In America
The mayor additionally introduced a brand new vaccine mandate for childcare and early intervention workers. The Dec. 20 deadline is predicted to impression 102,000 employees.
