Why there's NO reason to worry about Covid death uptick in NY trends now
Scientists have sought to calm fears over rising Covid deaths in New York, saying a rise during the winter months was to be expected.
Covid data from the state's health department shows 915 people died from Covid in December, up 30 percent from the 664 last month.
Concerns were raised by some experts and media outlets, who stressed that deaths had 'spiked' and 'people had let their guard down'.
But deaths are running at half the level compared to December 2021, and a third of the level of winter 2020. The current rate is also a far cry from the 16,000 monthly fatalities New York suffered early in the pandemic.
Dr Denis Nash, an epidemiologist at City University of New York, told DailyMail.com that the drop in Covid fatalities showed that vaccines, boosters and antivirals were working, adding that it underlined 'how far we've come'.
The above graph shows Covid deaths in New York state by month, and the rise by 30 percent which was described as a spike by the New York Post
But fatalities from respiratory illnesses — including Covid, flu and RSV — are expected to rise at this time of year because colder conditions lead to people spending more time indoors, where the virus finds it easier to spread.
The country is also currently being battered by a tripledemic, after flu and RSV cases surged earlier than expected overwhelming children's hospitals.
Fears have been raised over the 'Kraken' variant XBB.1.5 — for which New York is a hotspot — but there is no sign that it is more likely to cause severe disease than its rivals. Experts came forward today to suggest concerns were overblown and that it was not spreading as fast as previously suggested.
Presented with the figures on New York state, Dr Nash told DailyMail.com: 'I think this figure is a sign of how far we've come.
'I mean, the first thing that comes to mind is all the increasing immunity that people have developed from vaccines and boosters and infections.
The above graph shows Covid cases by week across the United States. Cases in the US have now hit more than 100million recorded to date
This graph shows hospital admissions by week across the United States
This graph shows deaths by week across the United States
'The next thing that comes to mind is people, not enough, but many people are accessing antivirals when they become infected with Covid that can reduce their risk of a severe outcome.
'As we move further along in the pandemic, we are getting better and better at preventing the worst.'
He added that it was not surprising to see Covid fatalities rise in winter, when respiratory viruses are more likely to spread.
'We expect a winter surge to happen,' he said.
'We saw a blip after the thanksgiving holidays, and I think people gathered more after the Christmas holidays and New Year's so we are expecting to see an increase in cases and deaths after that as well.'
Dr Nash also warned that there were still too many people dying from Covid across the US, with around 390 daily fatalities.
