New York’s weekly COVID-19 case tally fell 15% last week, signaling the latest omicron BA.5 subvariant wave was receding despite increases in hospitalizations and deaths, which typically lag behind infections.
New York reported 44,235 new cases in the week ending Sunday, down from the previous week’s tally of 52,115 cases.
New York ranked 28th among the states where coronavirus was spreading the fastest on a per-person basis, a USA TODAY Network analysis of Johns Hopkins University data shows.
Nationally, COVID-19 cases increased about 7% from the week before, with 906,593 cases reported. Across the country, 28 states had more cases in the latest week than they did in the week before.
In New York, the number of COVID-19 patients admitted per week to hospitals statewide has increased about 25% over the past month, including about 4,300 patients admitted last week. A total of 173 New Yorkers died due to COVID-19 in the week ending Sunday − up from 162 deaths the prior week − and New York’s overall pandemic death toll topped 70,000 in a stark reminder of the virus’ continued threat.
Still, the pace of increases in COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths has slowed in recent days, as authorities urged people to stay up to date on COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters in anticipation of a potential resurgence in the fall.
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And despite declining case counts last week, the BA.5 subvariant continued to pose a comparatively higher threat in the New York City area, including parts of the Hudson Valley. A total of 10 counties, including those in New York City, Long Island as well as Westchester, Rockland and Orange, remained in the high risk category due to COVID-19 infection rates and strain on local hospitals, according to federal guidelines.
State and federal health officials urged people to wear masks indoors in public spaces in all counties within the high-risk category, regardless of vaccination status, to help curb the virus’ spread.
How COVID is spreading in New York
- In the latest week, Westchester County saw its COVID-19 cases decline about 6%, reporting 2,213 cases and five deaths.
- Rockland County’s cases fall 10%, reporting 731 cases and three deaths.
- Putnam County’s cases increased 17%, reporting 205 cases and zero deaths.
- Orange County’s cases were flat, reporting 1,138 cases and three deaths.
- Dutchess County’s cases increased 5%, reporting 585 cases and two deaths.
- Upstate, Monroe County’s cases increased about 5%, reporting 739 cases and eight deaths.
- Broome County’s cases spiked about 20%, reporting 266 cases and one death.
- Oneida County’s cases were flat, reporting 226 cases and zero deaths.
Across New York, cases fell in 27 counties, with the best declines in:
- Kings County, with 6,455 cases from 9,122 a week earlier.
- Queens County, with 6,740 cases from 9,247.
- Bronx County, with 4,083 cases from 5,244.
>> See how your community has fared with recent coronavirus cases
Within New York, the worst weekly outbreaks on a per-person basis were in:
- Richmond County with 336 cases per 100,000 per week.
- Queens County with 299.
- New York County with 299.
The Centers for Disease Control says high levels of community transmission begin at 100 cases per 100,000 per week.
Weekly case counts rose in 34 counties from the previous week. The worst increases from the prior week’s pace were in Wyoming, Broome and Sullivan counties.
A total of 5,817,944 people in New York have tested positive for the coronavirus since the pandemic began, and 70,269 people have died from the disease, Johns Hopkins University data shows. In the United States 91,316,648 people have tested positive and 1,029,926 people have died.
>> Track coronavirus cases across the United States
New York’s COVID-19 hospital admissions rising
USA TODAY analyzed federal hospital data as of Sunday, July 31. Likely COVID patients admitted in the state:
- Last week: 4,322
- The week before that: 4,149
- Four weeks ago: 3,456
Likely COVID patients admitted in the nation:
- Last week: 75,143
- The week before that: 73,476
- Four weeks ago: 63,312
Hospitals in 24 states reported more COVID-19 patients than a week earlier, while hospitals in 21 states had more COVID-19 patients in intensive-care beds. Hospitals in 30 states admitted more COVID-19 patients in the latest week than a week prior, the USA TODAY analysis of U.S. Health and Human Services data shows.
The USA TODAY Network is publishing localized versions of this story on its news sites across the country, generated with data from Johns Hopkins University and the Centers for Disease Control. If you have questions about the data or the story, contact Mike Stucka at mstucka@gannett.com.
