NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — New York broke its own record for positive COVID-19 cases for the third day in a row on Sunday, with nearly 22,500 cases.
12,404 cases were seen in New York City alone.
"We must stay vigilant against the winter COVID-19 surge by taking the proper precautions against the spread of this virus," Governor Hochul said in a statement on Sunday.
Hochul added, "This is not March of 2020, we are not defenseless. We have the tools to protect ourselves and the vulnerable loves ones in our families: Get vaccinated, get the booster and wear a mask when indoors or in large gatherings. Don't take a chance during the winter surge."
Earlier Sunday, Mayor Bill de Blasio said that the city will open more COVID-19 testing sites this week amid a surge that the mayor predicts will continue to swell.
"We expect omicron to be a fast and temporary phenomenon. We expect these next weeks to see a very, very big surge in cases — more than we’ve seen previously," he said.
However, de Blasio said he expects to see that surge "dissipate."
To combat that looming increase, de Blasio continued to encourage mask usage, vaccinations, boosters and other precautionary measures.
He also announced the city this week will open three testing sites in Brooklyn, and two each in Queens. The city will also open a new site on Staten Island, Manhattan and in the Bronx.
The City previously reported de Blasio shut down 20 city-run testing sites last month.
De Blasio urged President Joe Biden to invoke the Defense Production Act to increase at-home tests and other supplies and asked the president to send a surge of monoclonal antibody treatments to the city and fast-track Pfizer's antiviral pill.
At the briefing, Mayor-elect Eric Adams joined de Blasio, who promised a unified front with his administration set to takeover on Jan. 1.
"The mayor and I are in 100% agreement that government must be doing all that it can to stop the COVID surge," Adams said.
De Blasio said the city saw over 5,700 positive test results on Sunday, calling the increase "astounding."
He warned that what New York City is currently facing, however, will be a test case for the whole country.
"We are feeling the omicron wave especially hard right now, but we know it’s going to hit all over the country," he added.
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