NEW YORK — The New York City Health Department warns a new covid-19 subvariant is highly transmissible. This comes as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating a possible side effect of the updated covid booster. “When they told me I was positive, I was like, positive for covid?” Bronx resident Brandon Williams said.
Williams is just starting to feel better after testing positive for covid this month. “Honestly, it was terrifying ’cause I lost my taste and smell,” he said. He’s not sure what strand it was, but the health department says 73% of all recent covid cases in New York City are the new omicron subvariant XXB.1.5. “I’ve gotten all my shots. I have five,” Midtown resident Pat Wexler said. City doctors warn this is the most transmissible form of covid known to date and may be more likely to infect people who are vaccinated or already had covid.
“This, like many of the omicron variants that have preceded it, are very contagious but fortunately have not lead to the development of severe illness for the most part,” said Dr. David Hirschwerk, medical director of North Shore University Hospital on Long Island. “Difficult to distinguish this variant from the presentation of other variants and also difficult to distinguish the presentation from other respiratory illnesses, like influenza.”