COVID-19 hospitalizations are up 70% per 100,000 since Thanksgiving in New York, and the surge has some Long Islanders making changes to their holiday plans.  

Rising cases on Long Island and the unknowns of the omicron variant had many Long Islanders telling News 12 that while they're not panicked-- they are concerned and already making adjustments like a booster shot appointment and wearing a mask to keep loved ones safe this holiday season and beyond.

President Joe Biden says more Americans must act and get vaccinated – claiming vaccinations have saved more than a million Americans.  However, nearly 40% of those eligible haven’t been fully vaccinated.

In the meantime, new COVID-19 cases are up nearly 50% from a month ago and hospitalizations are up more than 40%.

The delta variant is still dominant, and omicron only accounts for about 3% of cases sequenced in the U.S. Health experts say it may not stay that way for long, however.

"It is going to be dominant in the United States, given its doubling time," says Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

However, officials say it’s too early to say if omicron is less severe.

Many in Massapequa tell News 12 the uptick in cases and threat of omicron has them also adjusting holiday plans. With at-home tests available now, some say their families are going to provide those before gathering so everyone can feel safer.