Gov. Kathy Hochul along with health officials discussed the growing concern over the new mu variant of COVID-19 and whether New Yorkers need to be worried.

Hochul says the mu variant currently accounts for less than .5% of COVID cases in New York.

"We are in constant contact with the CDC," says Hochul. "They tell us right now it's not an immediate threat."

Dr. David Hirschwerk, an infectious disease specialist at Northwell Health, says if someone contracts COVID right now it's almost 100% that it is the delta variant.

Health experts say the mu variant originated in Ecuador or Colombia. It's also not clear yet whether or not the new variant is vaccine resistant.

"If that's the case, it could be problematic," says Hochul. "I want you to know we are on top of it and so are the pharmaceuticals."

Hirschwerk says the vaccines that are available have been effective against all of the variants so far. He says health experts will continue to monitor if the vaccines protect against the mu variant.

President Joe Biden is expected to comment on the prevalence of the mu variant and give a COVID-19 update Thursday.