Mayor Eric Adams provides a briefing on COVID-19 at Jacobi Hospital on Jan. 30, 2022 | Photo by Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office
NEW YORK – Some encouraging statistics about COVID-19 are in for New York, Mayor Eric Adams has announced. These are:
- NYC COVID-19 cases are down 80 percent since early January
- More than 75 percent of all New Yorkers are now fully vaccinated against COVID-19
- More than 11 percent ahead of national average
In addition, COVID-19 antiviral therapeutics and monoclonal antibody treatments effective at preventing severe outcomes, especially for high-risk New Yorkers, are now available for free, same-day, at-home delivery through the Health Department’s pharmacy partner, Alto Pharmacy.
Mayor Adams joined city health officials at Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx to clarify that New Yorkers were winning in the fight against COVID-19 and encouraged them to take advantage of available options to reduce transmission rates and help them quickly recover from COVID-19.
One treatment for COVID-19 — oral antiviral pills — is now available for free, same-day, at-home delivery through the Health Department’s pharmacy partner, Alto Pharmacy. Both oral antiviral pills and monoclonal antibodies have proved to reduce severe outcomes, like hospitalization and death. They are available for those who test positive for COVID-19 and have mild to moderate symptoms.
“Not only is New York City winning in the fight against COVID-19, but we are bringing even more help right to New Yorkers’ front doors to continue beating this pandemic,” said Mayor Adams. “We’ve not only decreased the amount of cases by more than 80 percent since early January, but hit a new milestone with 75 percent of all New Yorkers fully vaccinated — way ahead of the national average. We’re also offering high-risk New Yorkers, free, at-home delivery of COVID-19 antiviral pills to prevent serious illness and keep people out of the hospital. I urge all eligible New Yorkers to take advantage of this service, and for every New Yorker to stay up to date with their vaccines and boosters. This is about saving lives and getting our city moving again.”
Treatment is most effective when started soon after symptom onset. The Health Department recommends that New Yorkers get tested right away if they feel sick. Due to the limited supply of monoclonal antibodies and antiviral pills, they prioritize these treatments for those who have tested positive and are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19. New Yorkers who test positive should contact their doctor or call 212-COVID19 to connect to care and discuss treatment options available to them.
“We must continue to do all we can to prevent needless suffering and death caused by COVID-19,” said New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Dave A. Chokshi. “These treatments — combined with high-quality masks, vaccination, testing, and our other public health precautions — help us to defang the virus and keep New Yorkers safe and healthy.”
“Our city’s public health care system is seeing a decline in COVID-19 hospital admissions, but we are still very busy treating severely ill patients,” said NYC Health + Hospitals President and CEO Mitchell Katz, MD. “Free, at-home delivery of these antiviral pills will keep high-risk New Yorkers out of the hospital so we can immediately free up critical resources.”
–With Jay Domingo/PDM
