Jackson Heights Science Communication Initiative

We continue to see a rise in the test positivity rate in our neighborhood which should caution us all to increase our protective efforts.

The city’s data on COVID testing doesn’t include home tests, meaning that the absolute case numbers are low compared to the real COVID situation out there in NYC right now. While the current citywide case count (~4000/day) seems low when we think about the omicron wave earlier in the year, importantly the city is in the ‘high’ alert level–meaning that there is widespread COVID transmission and hospitalizations are increasing. The hospitalization increase, irrespective of the actual case numbers, is informative. We always want to provide data with context, and as the pandemic evolves, different data sources will be more or less appropriate.

Last week, the city issued an advisory encouraging everyone to wear masks in shared indoor spaces, and while that isn’t as good as a mask mandate, we can each do our part by donning those masks and protecting our neighbors.

These COVID waves keep coming and we’re all worn out, but we do have tools we can use to keep ourselves, our neighbors, and our loved ones healthier.