NEW YORK – The number of respiratory virus cases is surging this summer, a new variant of COVID-19.
Saturday, a typical summer day in Flushing, Queens. Families walked, fed the ducks across the lake and on the playground with their children.
“Trying to be active in the park,” Mariela Sanchez said.
But COVID is still up in the air.
“My parents were in poor health for about a week, but now they’re better,” Sanchez said.
Doctors say there has been a buildup of summer respiratory viruses, adding a new variant of COVID-EG. 5, which has just dominated in the U. S. This week.
According to the New York Department of Health, another 594 people have COVID in the past seven days, with the Bronx and Queens being the districts with the most cases on Monday. Flushing and Clearview are the neighborhoods that are experiencing the highest peak.
“It looks like Omicron, but it avoids immunity a little more. It’s kind of like what’s new that’s going to happen with COVID every time, which is what we’ll see replace a little bit enough to remain relevant,” said Dr. Eric Cioe Pena, vice president of Northwell Health’s Center for Global Health.
But Pena says that because many New Yorkers have already been immunized against COVID or vaccinated, hospitalizations will be low.
“I think we have a lot of post-traumatic stress from 2020, 2021, which makes us react to COVID when it’s actually pretty much the same as any other respiratory virus. it’s going to get very bad because of RSV, it’s going to get very bad because of the flu,” he said.
He warns to be careful with the summer virus: hand, foot and mouth disease.
“If you have health problems with a respiratory virus, people who are immunocompromised or medically fragile,” Pena said.
Meanwhile, mother Aisha Ibrahim says she is taking a chance; her 6-year-old son is still recovering from COVID two years ago.
“‘Mom, I’m tired. ‘ Even when he runs a little bit with his friends, ‘Mom, I’m tired,'” Ibrahim said. “Too many people. I don’t take them there. “
Doctors say we can expect to see a greater accumulation of COVID in the fall as other people attend more indoor gatherings. They say if you’re sick, stay home and if you have to faint, wear a mask.