A Message from Our Chief Medical Officer: Novel Coronavirus Update

Dear New York Tech Students, Faculty, and Staff:

As of February 17, 2022, more than 78 million cases of COVID-19 and 926,497 cumulative total deaths have been reported in the United States by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) since the start of the pandemic. Over the past seven-day period, the state reporting the highest number of cases per 100,000 people is Maine (1,674.3); Maryland reported the least (92.5). In comparison, the number of cases per 100,000 people in New York State has decreased to 163.4 from 259.7 one week ago; New York City cases decreased to 96 from 183.8, and Arkansas cases decreased to 336.2 from 475.9.

Locally, Long Island’s seven-day average COVID-19 testing positivity rate is now at 2.8 percent (vs. 4.2 percent one week ago), compared with 1.4 percent for all boroughs of New York City (vs. 2.6 percent one week ago). In New York State, new hospitalizations have also decreased, from 2.64 cases per 100,000 on February 9 to 1.85 on February 16. That these percentages continue to decrease is a very good sign that transmission of the Omicron variant is waning in our region.

The surveillance continuum for the coronavirus usually starts with increased transmission—demonstrated by increased cases, followed by increased hospitalizations, and finally, increased mortality rate (rate of death). In the most recent seven-day period, Mississippi is the state with the highest mortality rate, at 10.7 deaths per 100,000 people, while Alabama still has the lowest, at 0.2. In comparison, Arkansas is at 8.7, and New York State is at 2.3. Nationally, mortality rates are forecasted to decrease over the next four weeks, which is likely the result of earlier decreasing transmission rates.

As a result of decreasing positivity rates, new cases, and hospitalizations, New York State joined many other states in relaxing community mitigation efforts such as mandatory mask-wearing in public settings. However, since CDC recommendations differ from state and city guidelines, many people are confused about when masks are required. A recent New York Times article does a good job explaining when masks are required in the New York City area.

Meanwhile, the vaccine rollout continues, with more than 548 million doses have been administered in the United States. As of February 17, 76.1 percent of the population has received at least one dose, 64.6 percent are fully vaccinated, and 43.1 percent has received an additional booster. In New York State, 88.4 percent of the population has received at least one dose, and 75.1 percent is fully vaccinated.

The CDC continues to monitor variants of SARS Cov-2. The Omicron variant, which remains the predominant variant in all states, is still a variant of concern (VOC). The original Omicron variant, BA.1, has several additional subvariants, including BA.1.1, BA.2, and BA.3. The subvariant BA.2 is referred to as “stealth” Omicron because its genetic mutations could make it harder to distinguish it from the Delta variant in PCR tests. BA.2 has spread rapidly in countries including Denmark, the Philippines, and South Africa, outpacing the spread of the original BA.1. In the United States, however, BA.2 represented only 3.9 percent of Omicron variants during the week of February 6, 2022.

The new BA.2 lineage is reportedly 1.5 times more transmissible than the original BA.1, but there is no strong evidence that it causes more severe illness. The good news is that despite a potential increase in transmission, those who are fully vaccinated have a lower risk of death and hospitalizations. The increased transmissibility of a new viral lineage highlights the need for ongoing surveillance and underscores the reality that a return to increased community mitigation activity is always a possibility.

As a reminder, proof of vaccination is still required for all members of the New York Tech community. Please find more information about our vaccination and testing policies and how to upload proof of vaccination here. If you have not done so, please upload your proof of vaccination so that we have a record for our database and health screen! As always, those who may feel anxious or uneasy can reach out to Counseling and Wellness Services at our campuses in Long Island (516.686.7683) or New York City (212.261.1773) to talk or make a virtual appointment.

Sincerely,

Brian L. Harper, M.D., M.P.H.
Chief Medical Officer, NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine