New York reports over 21,000 COVID-19 cases, highest daily record of pandemic

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that on Thursday, the state saw its highest number of new coronavirus cases in a single day over the course of the entire pandemic. That day, a record 21,908 new infections were reported. 

The state health department reported that roughly 8 percent of all Covid tests had turned up positive, which was nearly double the rate of just a few days ago. “The winter surge in COVID-19 cases is a reminder that the pandemic is not over yet and we must take extra care to keep ourselves and each other safe,” said Hochul in a press release on Friday.

The record number comes as the United States is confronting increasing cases caused by the delta variant of the virus as the newly discovered omicron variant is spreading quickly.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the omicron variant accounted for 13.1 percent of the total number of Covid cases in the New York and New Jersey region last week.

Amidst the spread, health officials are encouraging residents to get vaccinated and get booster shots as soon as they are eligible to do so. Over 129,000 vaccine doses were administered in New York on Thursday, as reported by the state.

Several Covid mitigation measures have been introduced and reintroduced in New York, and outbreaks have canceled live performances in New York this week, including the Rockette’s “Christmas Spectacular” at Radio City Music Hall as well as “Moulin Rouge! The Musical” on Broadway.

In New York City, indoor establishments like dining, fitness, entertainment, and certain meeting spaces are required to have patrons 5 and older show proof that they have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 emergency authorized vaccine.