Second US Case Visits Large New York Event with 50,000 Attendees on November 5
Korean Pavilion Operated at Subsequent Large Exhibition
New York Governor Confirms "5 Infections"
Lack of Variant Testing Capacity Leaves Spread Unchecked
Biden Chooses 'With Omicron' Strategy Emphasizing Boosters
Casey Hocal, Governor of New York, is briefing on the occurrence of Omicron variant infections within New York State. [Image source=AP Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] New York City has become a 'breeding ground' for the Omicron COVID-19 variant in the United States. On this day, five infections were confirmed in New York City alone, and a resident from Minnesota who visited New York was also infected. Since local infections occurred through a large-scale event attended by more than 50,000 people, a significant scale of infection is feared.
On the evening of the 2nd (local time), New York Governor Kathy Hochul held a briefing with New York Mayor Bill de Blasio and announced, "Five New Yorkers have been infected."
Earlier that morning, after the second Omicron infection in the U.S. was confirmed in a man from Minnesota who had previously visited New York City, additional infections were confirmed consecutively.
In New York, five new infections were reported, one of whom had completed vaccination and was infected after visiting South Africa. There was also one infected person in Colorado.
In particular, the second infected person from Minnesota was reported to have visited 'Anime NYC 2021' held at the Javits Center, a large exhibition hall in Manhattan, New York City, at the end of last month, raising alarms for New York authorities.
The Javits Center was used as a temporary hospital during the early stages of the COVID-19 outbreak last year and later served as a large vaccination site. After completing COVID-related health duties, the Javits Center has been hosting exhibition events.
About 53,000 people attended the Anime NYC 2021 event. The organizers held the event under the condition that only vaccinated individuals could attend and that masks were to be worn inside the venue.
Despite completing vaccination, breakthrough infections of Omicron are occurring one after another, and since removing masks while eating inside the venue was allowed, virus transmission is expected.
Following Anime NYC 2021, the Javits Center hosted the '2021 Greater New York Dental Meeting (GNYDM 2021)' until the 1st of this month, with over 50,000 attendees.
This event is the largest dental equipment exhibition in North America. A Korean pavilion operated by Korean companies participated under the leadership of the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA).
Governor Hochul and Mayor de Blasio expressed concerns that local infections may have already progressed significantly. Governor Hochul declared a state of emergency in New York State last week in preparation for the arrival of Omicron.
Despite the spread of local infections, the U.S. testing capacity has significant gaps. According to NBC News, most U.S. states, including New York, conduct variant testing on only about 3.5% of positive COVID-19 samples. NBC expressed concerns that Omicron may have spread widely before being detected.
Although the spread of Omicron has become a foregone conclusion, U.S. President Joe Biden chose to coexist with Omicron by emphasizing booster shots.
In a speech at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) on this day, President Biden announced, "To enter the United States, a negative COVID-19 test result conducted within one day before boarding the aircraft must be submitted." This measure will take effect from the 6th. There was no mandatory testing or quarantine after entry as initially expected.
President Biden urged people to get booster shots, saying, "We will respond to Omicron with science and speed, not confusion."
The New York Times reported that President Biden chose not to impose economic lockdown measures despite the spread of Omicron.
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