Officials
are urging New Yorkers to take action after a massive spike in COVID-19 cases
ahead of the upcoming holidays.
Gov. Kathy
Hochul says the winter surge is already here, with a combination of omicron and
delta variants along with the flu season ramping up on top of it all.
The surge
comes following a set state mask mandate made by the governor – which requires everyone to
wear a mask in any indoor space –
unless they require full vaccination proof.
"This
is a crisis. This is a health care crisis and people are going to die,” said Gov. Hochul.
On Long
Island, the COVID-19 positivity rate is now more than 7.5% - the highest
rate in nearly a year.