Health Officials urge masks & testing as COVID-19 cases surge

Health Officials urge masks & testing as COVID-19 cases surge

Mass transit riders wear masks as they commute in the financial district of lower Manhattan, Tuesday, April 19, 2022, in New York. U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle in Tampa, Fla., on April 18, 2022, voided the national travel mask mandate as exceeding the authority of U.S. health officials. The mask mandate that covers travel on airplanes and other public transportation was recently extended by President Joe Biden's administration until May 3. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

East Farmingdale, NY- New York City health officials are urging New Yorkers, ages 2 and older, to wear masks in all indoor public settings as the city approaches “high risk” COVID-19 alert status. New York City has been averaging around 3,600 reported new cases of COVID-19 per day over the past week.

On Long Island the latest data from the New York State Department of Health has the cases per 100K rate is now at 62.41, the seven day positivity rate is 10.89% and the number of people hospitalized in New York State with COVID-19 is 2,497.

The United States is once again offering free COVID-19 test kits that will be mailed through the US Postal Service. Register for your free at home COVID-19 tests, here.

The Centers for Disease Control is now recommending that all persons test for COVID-19 at least three days before traveling. The updated guidance from the CDC is available, here.

Photo: Mass transit riders wear masks as they commute in the financial district of lower Manhattan, Tuesday, April 19, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

By Brett Levine with the Associated Press