NY Now Has 12 Confirmed Cases of Omicron, And 32 Upstate Hospitals Have Been Blocked From Performing Non-essential Surgeries

Worries sparked by the spread of the Omicron variant in New York have been multiplied as 12 cases were confirmed as of late Monday night.

With four new cases announced by Governor Kathy Hochul on Monday, the current tally of the Omicron-affected patients in new York has reached 12, and under an emergency order to curb the spread, 32 upstate hospitals will now be blocked from performing non-essential surgeries.

Source: NY Post KENA BETANCUR/AFP via Getty Images

The new Omicron cases were confirmed by the Department of Health’s Wadsworth Center in two cases in Suffolk County, Long Island, and two cases in Oneida County, while none of the cases were connected to the Anime convention at the Javits Center, which was linked to the Empire State’s earliest known cases.

In the new order that barred non-essential surgeries for hospitals experiencing low bed capacities because of staff shortages or an influx of coronavirus patients, a total of some 32 hospitals made the list on Monday because they had 10 percent or less of their staffed bed capacity available, the Department of Health confirmed.

In her address informing citizens of the rising Omicron cases, Hochul said, “With the new variant circulating, the best way to stay safe and prevent serious illness during the holiday season is by getting vaccinated or a booster shot. With more friends and family gathering indoors this time of year, we have the tools to fight this pandemic and you can protect yourself and your loved ones by getting vaccinated and encouraging others to get the shot, and mask up.”