New York Health Commissioner urges seniors and anyone with underlying illnesses to stay home

New York Health Commissioner Dr Dave Chokshi released a new advisory on Tuesday advising the elderly, those with underlying health conditions and those who are members of the household or caregivers of such people at risk of COVID-related illness to stay home and limit all activities except for medical or essential purposes.

“It means stopping non-essential activities, staying as much as possible and avoiding social activities outside your home,” Chokshi said at a press conference this morning.

City Says Underlying Health Conditions That Increase Your Risk Of Serious Illness From COVID-19 Include “Cancer, Heart Disease, Such As Heart Failure, Coronary Artery Disease Or Cardiomyopathies, Chronic Kidney Disease , type 2 diabetes, pregnancy, sickle cell disease, obesity, immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from solid organ transplantation, smoking, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. “(A comprehensive list of conditions that can increase the risk of disease grave can be found on the CDC website.)

Anyone affected by this notice must wear a face mask at all times indoors and outdoors; limit interactions with others as much as possible; not have any guests at home except the necessary caregivers; avoid travel inside and outside the city; and continue to practice routine and necessary precautions such as keeping six feet away from others and maintaining the health care routine.

“We need you if you are older, if you have pre-existing conditions, to take extra precautions,” added Mayor Bill de Blasio. He also encouraged all New Yorkers to get their flu shot if they haven’t already, and to donate blood if possible.

The advisory comes as the city’s coronavirus count continues to climb steadily. Mayor de Blasio said according to the city’s latest data the daily number of people admitted to hospitals is 132, with 58% of them testing positive for COVID-19; new cases reported over an average of seven days are 1,685; the daily percentage of New Yorkers who tested positive is 5.72%, and the seven-day positive test average is 4.14%.

Governor Andrew Cuomo announced a similar increase according to state data: he said on Tuesday that the overall percentage of positive daily state was 4.96% and that the percentage without microclusters taken into account was 4.4 %. New York City has a positivity rate of 2.92% on a seven-day moving average, according to state data.

“The numbers are increasing,” Cuomo said. “We expected the numbers to increase. My projection is that the numbers will continue to increase during the holiday season … Thanksgiving was not a day or a weekend, it was the start of the holiday season. holidays. Increased social activity increases the virus. transmission. “

“I think the rate will continue throughout New Years, I hope the rate stabilizes after New Years Day, so I think you are considering a stabilization of the rate in mid January, I hope I hope, ”added Cuomo. “The numbers are going up. The number one priority when you find yourself in this situation is hospitalization and hospital overwhelming.”

Dr Mitchell Katz, CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals, said this morning they were bracing for an increase in cases; At present, intensive care health + hospitals are about two-thirds full and they are not overwhelmed at any of their 11 hospitals. “I have spoken with my colleagues through the great New York association, and all hospitals are currently ready to take more patients if necessary,” he noted.