Dear New York Tech Students, Faculty, and Staff: As of October 6, 2022, there are approximately 96.3 million cumulative cases of COVID-19, and 1,055,293 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. Over the past seven-day period, the state reporting the highest number of cases per 100,000 people is New Jersey (168.3), while Nevada reported the least (33.6). For comparison, New York has 156.8, New York City 165.8, and Arkansas has 67.2. Locally, Long Island is now at 7.4 percent for the seven-day average positivity rate testing for COVID-19 compared to a 5.5 percent positivity rate for all New York City boroughs. Throughout the state, new hospitalizations have increased to 1.88 per 100,000 people from 1.59 two weeks ago. This remains relatively stable since June 2022. The surveillance continuum for COVID-19 usually starts with increased transmission demonstrated by increased cases, followed by increased hospitalizations, and finally increased mortality rate (rate of death). In the last seven-day period, Arkansas is currently the state with the highest mortality rate at 3.5 deaths per 100,000 people. Alaska and Vermont have the lowest mortality rate at 0 deaths reported per 100,000. For comparison, New York is at 0.8 deaths per 100,000. Nationally, it is forecast that “the number of newly reported COVID-19 deaths will likely decrease over the next four weeks, with 1,500 to 3,300 new deaths likely reported in the week ending October 29, 2022.” This is an improved forecast over past weeks. The vaccine rollout continues, with more than 619 million doses administered in the United States. In addition, 79.5 percent of the population has received at least one dose, 67.9 percent are now fully vaccinated, and 48.8 percent of the population have received one additional booster, as of September 29, 2022. By comparison, the CDC reports that 92.5 percent of the total population in New York has received at least one dose and 78.9 percent are fully vaccinated as of September 30, 2022. There continues to be a decreasing trend in the number of people being vaccinated. As previously shared, the CDC has recommended the use of the redesigned COVID-19 booster shots for people aged 12 years and older that targets the BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron subvariants of the coronavirus. This is particularly important because as of September 2, 2022, the most rapidly growing variants—BA.5, BA.4, and BA.4.6—have grown to 93.6 percent of all circulating variants in the United States. I am pleased to share that the Moderna vaccine booster is currently available at New York Tech’s academic health centers via an appointment at 516.686.1300. Following “Community COVID Levels” recommendations is still emphasized by the CDC where a combination of metrics—1) case rate per 100,000 population; 2) new COVID-19 hospital admissions per 100,000 population; and 3) the percentage of staffed inpatient beds in use by patients with confirmed COVID-19—to assign a specific county level of high, medium, or low risk is used. As of August 25, 2022, four New York City boroughs (Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and the Bronx) are now designated as “low risk.” Nassau, Suffolk, Richmond, and Westchester counties are now in the “medium risk” category. Therefore, mask wearing is no longer routinely recommended indoors in any of these counties and there remain no state or local mandates in regards to wearing masks. Polio has also become a communicable disease of recent public health concern. On July 18, 2022, a case of poliovirus with acute paralysis was confirmed in an unvaccinated adult in Rockland County, NY. The infection was not travel-related, and paralytic cases are an indicator of likely underlying poliovirus transmission in a community. As of September 23, 2022, the CDC confirmed the presence of poliovirus in a total of 69 positive wastewater samples in New York. Of the 69 positive samples of concern, 62 have been found to be genetically linked to the individual case of paralytic polio in a Rockland County resident. Of those 62 samples, 37 were collected in Rockland County, 16 in Orange County, eight in Sullivan County, and one in Nassau County. Poliovirus is primarily spread by the fecal-oral route and infection can lead to aseptic meningitis, paralysis, permanent disability, and death. Most people with infection will not have symptoms but can still transmit the virus. One in four people will have flu-like symptoms, one in 25 will have aseptic meningitis, and one in 200 will develop symptoms of paralysis. An infected person may transmit the virus to others before and up to two weeks after symptom onset. The good news is that most adults do not need the polio vaccine because they were already vaccinated as children. A polio vaccine has been available in the United States since 1955. The big concern is that pediatric vaccinations have not returned to pre-pandemic levels, leaving many children at risk of vaccine preventable diseases such as polio. Therefore, a renewed effort is underway to ensure children are appropriately vaccinated. As a reminder, please note that all members of the New York Tech community must continue to report to contacttracing@nyit.edu if they have tested positive for COVID-19. 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. Our medical students can reach out to NYITCOM’s Counseling and Wellness in Long Island (516.686.7636) or Arkansas (870.680.8839). Sincerely, Brian L. Harper, M.D., M.P.H. Chief Medical Officer, NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine Vice President, Equity and Inclusion Copyright © 2022 New York Institute of Technology