Albany, N.Y. - Governor Kathy Hochul today holding a COVID briefing said a Minnesota resident who was recently in New York City at a convention at the Javits Center in Manhattan has tested positive for the Omicron variant.
Hochul said the person was vaccinated, had mild symptoms that have already resolved. She said we do anticipate there will be more cases but is is not cause for alarm. Hochul said there have been no confirmed cases in the state of New York.
She also introduced Dr. Mary Basset the new Commissioner of the Department of Health. She previously served as New York City's health commissioner from 2014 to summer of 2018. During her time working for the New York City Department of Health she led the response to the Ebola virus. Dr. Bassett replaces Dr. Howard Zucker who resigned following criticism over his COVID-19 response.
Gov Hochul said the White House has announced that insurance companies must cover over-the-counter, at home rapid Covid tests.
She also said New York has ordered 1 million more antigen tests for schools to help with the "test-to-stay" strategy many districts are opting for.
Hochul again warned people about rising Covid positivity rates, especially in Upstate and she blamed one thing, unvaccinated people. “It is a conscious decision not to be vaccinated and the direct result is a higher rate in those regions upstate.”