COVID Cases ‘Increasing’ In NYC, Just In Time For Holidays: Data

NEW YORK CITY — COVID is coming home for the holidays in New York City, again.

New COVID-19 cases are officially “increasing” as daily infections rose to 3,200 this week, according to the city’s virus indicators. They had remained “stable” for weeks, even as cases of two other respiratory viruses — influenza and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV — increased.

But the new COVID-19 cases has risen sharply every day since Thanksgiving, when there were roughly 2,400 cases, according to data.

Gov. Kathy Hochul yet again warned New Yorkers this week that the trio of respiratory viruses are likely to become only more common as the weather gets colder.

"I remind all New Yorkers to remain vigilant and continue to use all available tools to keep themselves, their loved ones and their communities safe and healthy," she said in a statement. "Be sure to stay up to date on vaccine doses, and test before gatherings or travel.”

COVID-19 cases have spiked every holiday season since the pandemic began in 2020, and the data hints it could happen again this year.

But this COVID holiday spike could be matched by the rise of flu and RSV.

Experts have warned that a “tridemic” or “tripledemic” of coronavirus, flu and RSV could hit this winter as cases of all three viruses peak about the same time.

Indeed, city officials deemed influenza activity “elevated” for weeks running— most recently in a flu surveillance report released this week.

More than 5,500 samples tested positive for influenza during the week that ended Nov. 19, according to the report.

But the latest data did show a hopeful drop in RSV.

RSV cases dipped below 4,400 a week, according to the data.