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Dear New York Tech Students, Faculty, and Staff: As of October 28, 2021, more than 45.6 million cases of COVID-19 and 740,348 cumulative total deaths have been reported in the United States by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) since the start of the pandemic. Nationally, the rate of new cases and new deaths continues to decrease. Over the past seven-day period, the state reporting the highest number of cases per 100,000 people is Alaska (657); California reported the least (64.2). For comparison, New York State has 172.1 cases per 100,000 and New York City has 73.8. The vaccine rollout continues. More than 417 million doses have been administered in the U.S., with 66.7 percent of the population having received at least one dose and 57.6 percent fully vaccinated. In New York State, the CDC reports that 73.8 percent has received at least one dose and 66.3 percent is fully vaccinated. Impressively, in Nassau County (where New York Tech’s Long Island campus is located), the County Executive recently said she was “proud to share that that 95 percent of adult residents in Nassau County have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose, the highest adult vaccination rate of all 62 counties in New York State, according to the New York State Department of Health. Nassau County has the second-highest adult vaccination rate in the United States among the 40 most populous counties. Our high vaccination rate is saving lives and helping spur a strong economic recovery. And we are committed to keeping up our momentum.”
At present, the CDC recommends everyone 12 years and older should get the COVID-19 vaccination to help protect themselves against COVID-19. Children 12 years and older can get the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, while approval is still pending for a COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 5 to 11. The CDC continues to monitor variants of SARS Cov-2. The Delta variant remains the predominant variant in all states. It is the only current Variant of Concern (VOC). Although there are no new VOCs at this time, a newer lineage of the Delta variant (AY.4.2), also called Delta Plus, is being monitored. According to Outbreak.info, the AY.4.2 subvariant has been detected in at least five cases in the U.S. since August: in Washington, D.C., California, North Carolina, Washington state, and Massachusetts. This new subvariant is also raising concerns in the United Kingdom, where it may be contributing to a surge in cases. However, there have been recent policy changes in which community mitigation efforts are no longer required that may also be playing a major role in the uptick of cases. At this point, in the United States, there is no major immediate concern, but this subvariant will continue to be monitored. As we prepare for Halloween and the holiday season, we should continue to remain vigilant in our covid prevention activities. The CDC has specific recommendations for Halloween and holiday celebrations. Finally, all New York Tech students, faculty, and staff were required to be vaccinated by October 22, 2021. Please find more information about our vaccination and testing policies and how to upload proof of vaccination here. Please upload your proof of vaccination so that we have a record for our Health Screen database! To reduce the likelihood of any campus transmission at New York Tech, it remains important for employees and students to wear their masks on campus and remain at home when ill. Vaccinated individuals can carry the coronavirus, so please do not put others at risk and stay at home if you have any flu-like symptoms. As always, those who may feel anxious or uneasy can reach out to Counseling and Wellness Services at our campuses in Long Island (516.686.7683) or New York City (212.261.1773) to talk or make a virtual appointment. Sincerely, Brian L. Harper M.D., M.P.H. Chief Medical Officer, NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine |
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