New York City officials are once again advising residents to mask up to prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses like Covid - but even the flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
Dr Ashwin Vasan, commissioner of NYC Health, issued an advisory today urging the use of face coverings in indoor public places. It is not a mandate and will not be enforced by city officials - but some private businesses may choose to follow it.
A media release cites the surge in Covid, RSV and the flu striking the city. The Big Apple is currently recording 3,761 daily Covid infections, a 55 percent increase over the last two weeks. The city confirmed more than 11,000 flu cases during the final week of November.
The move follows recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to mask up to prevent non-Covid respiratory viruses earlier this week.
America has been struck with massive flu and RSV surges this season. It has been described as the worst flu season since the 2009 Swine Flu pandemic. More than 80 percent of hospital beds in the US are currently in use as a result of the surge - a figure higher than it was at any point during the pandemic.
NYC health officials are recommending that residents wear masks in indoor public places and outdoor crowded places to prevent the spread of RSV, the flu and Covid (file photo)
'Today [Dr Vasan] issued an advisory as NYC faces high levels of COVID-19, flu and RSV,' the agency wrote in a tweet.
'New Yorkers are strongly urged to wear masks in public indoor settings and crowded outdoor settings.'
The order piggybacks off of the CDC's advice earlier this week. Dr Rochelle Walensky, director of the agency, said during a briefing Monday: 'we also encourage you to wear a high-quality, well-fitting mask to prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses'.
Nationwide, America recorded 35,704 confirmed cases of the flu during the week that ended on December 3.
This is a slight decrease from the 35,993 recorded a week earlier - the first time weekly cases have declined since the start of flu season.
New York City recorded more than 11,000 new flu infections during the week ending on November 26, doubling the infection total from November 19
The CDC classifies 26 states as suffering 'very high' flu transmission, a decrease from the 44 that received the distinction last week
The agency also reports that 25 percent of tests for the flu are coming back positive - matching the total from the week before.
New York City is designated as an area of 'very high' flu transmission by the CDC, and is given the most severe classification.
In its most recent report on the flu, more than 11,000 cases were confirmed in the city during the week ending on November 26.
The tally more than doubles the previous week's total of 5,500 confirmed infections.
In total, the CDC considers 26 states to be areas of 'very high' flu circulation - a drop from the 44 states that received the classification last week.
Ten states receive the highest classification: Colorado, Connecticut, Kentucky, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia and Washington.
This signals that the flu may be burning out after rampantly spreading across the US over the past three months.
Experts have said that this flu season started earlier than those in year's past, so it could have potentially peaked in early-December - while it usually peaks at the end of the month.
Influenza is not the only virus circulating, as RSV is continuing its spread around the US. But it has slowed in recent weeks.
The virus is an annual bug that comes back around each flu season. It is usually overlooked as it is not particularly dangerous to adults - but young children are vulnerable.
It kills around 300 to 500 children each year, according to official data.
Federal officials recorded 6,253 RSV cases during the week ending on December 3. During the week end on November 26, 14,348 cases were recorded.
Officials are hopeful that RSV - which started to surge across America in late summer, could already be running out of steam.
Walensky said Monday that parts of the country were either seeing RSV decline or start to taper off after a rough start to the season.
Neither New York City nor the state report weekly RSV case figures.
The city is averaging nearly 4,000 daily Covid infections, a 55 percent increase over the past two weeks.
Deaths from Covid remain minimal, though, with 16 being recorded in the city each day - less than one death per 100,000 members of the city's population.
Graph shows: Common (green tick), occasional (orange circle) and never (red cross) symptoms of the common cold, hay fever and Covid
English (United States) ·