The omicron variant of COVID-19 appears to be spreading four times faster in New York and New Jersey than the rest of the country, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Dr. David Battinelli, of Hofstra University's School of Medicine, says the virus will spread wherever it finds the opportunity.

"The more people who are unvaccinated, the faster it's going to spread," Battinelli says. "The more people who don't receive boosters, the faster it's going to spread."

He also says the virus spreads faster in places where fewer people are wearing masks.

Coram residents Lorene Worthington says she is required to wear a mask at work all day.

"Everybody's going by the guidelines as far as I can see," Worthington says.

Gov. Kathy Hochul says that hospitalizations in New York have gone up 70% per 100,000 since Thanksgiving.