Up Close with Bill Ritter: COVID infection rate surges as omicron variants BA-4 and BA-5 spread across NYC – ABC7 New York

Up Close: NYC COVID Infection Rate Spikes – Dr. Jay Varma on Omicron Subvariants and Protection Strategies

As New York City faced another wave of COVID-19 in the summer of 2022, Up Close host Bill Ritter sat down with Dr. Jay Varma to break down the science behind the city’s rising infection rate and provide practical guidance for navigating a new surge. With positivity rates topping 15%—and exceeding 20% in some neighborhoods—Dr. Varma helped viewers understand the threat posed by the BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron subvariants, and what individuals and communities could do to minimize their risk.

A Summer Surge—and the Numbers Don’t Tell the Full Story

New York City saw an alarming rise in COVID-19 cases during July 2022, driven by the highly transmissible BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron subvariants. The official citywide positivity rate climbed past 15%, but as Dr. Jay Varma noted, that number likely underestimated the true scale of infections.

“We have a large number of people testing at home and not reporting their results,” Varma explained. “So, the actual infection rate is certainly much higher than what’s officially tracked.”

Indeed, the NYC Health Department’s map showed some neighborhoods with reported positivity rates over 20%, raising concerns about another cycle of hospitalizations and disrupted services.

Understanding the BA.4 and BA.5 Subvariants

Dr. Varma emphasized that while BA.4 and BA.5 are both Omicron offshoots, they carry mutations that make them more immune-evasive, meaning they’re better at infecting people who’ve been vaccinated or previously infected.

However, vaccines—especially with boosters—still provide strong protection against severe illness, hospitalization, and death.

“Think of your immune system like a layered defense,” said Dr. Varma. “Even if a virus breaks through one layer, other layers—especially T-cell immunity—help protect you from serious outcomes.”

Practical Protection: What You Can Do Right Now

Rather than focusing on fear, Dr. Varma offered clear, actionable guidance for protecting oneself and others:

Wear a high-quality mask (such as N95, KN95, or KF94) in crowded indoor spaces.
Get vaccinated and stay boosted, especially for vulnerable groups.
Use at-home rapid tests before gatherings.
Stay home when symptomatic—even with a mild sore throat or sniffle.
Improve ventilation indoors (open windows, use HEPA filters).

Dr. Varma also highlighted the role of individual responsibility in the current stage of the pandemic:

“We may not have citywide mandates, but that doesn’t mean we can’t make smart, evidence-based decisions for ourselves and our families.”

Looking Ahead: A Future of Variants

When asked whether we should expect future waves, Dr. Varma responded with a mixture of realism and optimism.

He explained that SARS-CoV-2 will likely continue to evolve and cause recurring surges, but our ability to respond is much stronger than in the early days of the pandemic. Better surveillance, faster test availability, improved treatments like Paxlovid, and higher population immunity all work in our favor.