One in every 50 Manhattan residents tested positive for coronavirus in the past week as the Omicron variant causes a massive surge in cases in New York City.
According to transmission data released by the city's health department, the borough reported nearly 2,012 new cases for every 100,000 people—about 2 percent of the total population.
The city's Chelsea-Clinton neighborhoods reported the highest number of new cases per capita at 2,600 new cases for every 100,000 people, according to the city's data.
New York's other boroughs also reported notably high numbers of cases. Per 100,000 people, Staten Island reported 1,902 cases, Brooklyn reported about 1,741 cases, the Bronx reported about 1,685 cases and Queens reported about 1,547 cases.
The citywide average was 1,742 cases were per 100,000 people, according to the health department.
Cases in New York—an epicenter of the virus during the first months of the pandemic—began rising earlier in December, prompting officials in the state and city to take quick action to try to limit the spread of cases.
Governor Kathy Hochul issued an indoor mask mandate across the state out of Omicron concerns. The mandate went into effect December 13 and will last until at least January 15.
"We're entering a time of uncertainty and we could either plateau here or our cases could get out of control," she said during a December 10 press conference.
Hochul announced December 6 that elective surgeries in the state would be temporarily halted as the state dealt with the surge in cases.
The virus forced several cultural events including Broadway shows, the Radio City Rockettes' holiday show and Saturday Night Live to shutter due to outbreaks among their casts. The city also scaled down their New Year's Eve celebration due to the high number of cases.
The city is also experiencing a nursing shortage as many test positive for the virus.
Amid the surge, schools in New York City announced steps to ensure they will not have to shut down. Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Tuesday that the state will send 2 million at-home testing kits to schools that can be sent home to students if a classmate tests positive. The city will also increase the number of random tests at each school.
"Two clear messages we're sending loud and clear," incoming mayor Eric Adams said during a press conference alongside Mayor Bill de Blasio. "Your children are safer in school. The numbers speak for themselves. And we are united to make sure they continue to be safe."
The surge in New York City's cases coincides with a nationwide increase in cases fueled by Omicron, which is believed to be more transmissible than past variants. On Monday, the U.S. reported a seven-day-average of 243,099 new cases per day. One week earlier, that number was 143,179.
