NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- New York state reported a record number of new COVID-19 cases on Friday as Gov. Kathy Hochul said she was extending the state’s “mask or vax” policy for businesses and requiring booster shots for CUNY and SUNY students.
The state reported 76,555 new cases, Hochul said at a COVID-19 briefing in Albany. It’s an increase from the previous record of 74,207 reported Thursday.
“It’s almost not worth it to say we’re breaking records, we’re breaking records every day,” Hochul said. “And we’ll probably continue to do so until we hit that downward trend, which we hope happens sooner than later.”
The surge in cases was also leading to rising hospitalizations, with the state reporting 7,919 patients Friday.
Hochul said officials expect the surge in cases and hospitalizations to continue into the New Year and that the state was taking a number of steps in anticipation.
She said she was extending the state’s policy of requiring masks or proof of vaccinations at businesses statewide by two weeks. It was set to last until Jan. 15, now it’s until Feb. 1.
Hochul also said the state was issuing new guidance for SUNY and CUNY schools for the spring semester requiring all students to receive a COVID-19 booster shot when eligible.
The requirement takes effect on Jan. 15, the governor said, adding that faculty must now be vaccinated too.
“In order to return to your college campus, you have to be boosted,” Hochul said.
Students will also be required to submit a negative COVID-19 test when returning to campus, and random testing will be done throughout the semester too.
Students must also wear masks in indoor public places when they return to school.
Hochul said FEMA is also deploying 50 new ambulance teams to New York City in early January.
Another 50 National Guard members are also headed to New York City to assist in "critical nonclinical functions," the governor said, noting that 50 members were already in the city.
Hochul said it’s all part of the state’s “Winter Surge Plan 2.0” to deal with the spike in cases and hospitalizations post-holidays.
The governor said the plan has five main goals: keep kids in school; keep wearing masks and testing; prevent severe illness and deaths; keep increasing vaccines and boosters for adults and kids; and keep working in collaboration with local leaders.
Another part of the plan includes getting millions of test kits to schools so they can remain open in the months ahead.
Kathryn Garcia, the director of state operations, said the state had ordered over 37 million tests and that 5.2 million tests arrived this week, including 2.1 million headed to New York City. An additional 6 million tests are set to arrive through Monday, Garcia said.
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