COVID Spikes In NYC: Here's What To Know As Hospitals Reinstate Masks

NEW YORK CITY — A not-so-welcome old acquaintance is sticking around New York City after the holidays: the coronavirus.

Rising cases of COVID-19, as well influenza and RSV, prompted health officials to reinstate a mask mandate for the city's public hospitals.

The masking mandate's return makes sense, given the coughs and sniffles echoing across the city's offices, subways and other public spaces, said Health Commissioner Ashwin Vasan on NY1.

"New Yorkers aren't imagining it: the cases of COVID and cases of flu are on the rise," he said.

So, how bad is COVID-19 right now?

Recent COVID-19 numbers are nowhere near the pandemic's highs, but three key measurements show notable increases, data shows.

Daily COVID-19 hospitalizations rose 153 percent during December, according to the last updated batch of average admission data from the city.

Official testing data — which has been less reliable with the widespread use of home tests — shows a 106 percent increase in cases during the same span.

Perhaps the most reliable, although far from specific, sign of COVID's recent rise is beneath New Yorkers' feet: the sewers.

Wastewater samples showed a 372 percent rise in coronavirus detections during the span of a week, THE CITY first reported about the most recent batch of data.

New Yorkers can combat COVID by tried-and-true preventative measures, Vasan said.

He recommended city dwellers to get the most recent updated COVID-19 vaccine, in addition to a flu shot.

"Wearing masks works in crowded settings," he said.