NY doesn’t expect ‘steep surge’ from variant--Health official

State official: NY doesn't expect 'steep surge' from variant ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York's top health official said Monday that she doesn't expect to see a big surge in COVID-19 cases in the state as a new subvariant of the virus grows more prevalent. The omicron variant BA.2, commonly known as “stealth omicron," now represents 42% of all cases in New York, according to state Health Commissioner Mary Bassett. AP NEWS

...The omicron variant BA.2, commonly known as “stealth omicron,” now represents 42% of all cases in New York, according to state Health Commissioner Mary Bassett.

Even with that shift, “we don’t expect to see a steep surge in cases in New York state,” Bassett said Monday at an Albany briefing with Gov. Kathy Hochul.

She said that, so far, the state is not seeing a steep rate of growth like in the United Kingdom and parts of Europe. ...