Tessa Quinn
New York has been tracking COVID-19 hospitalizations since March 2020, and the data shows that hospitalizations are growing faster among teens than adults. In 2020, New York state reported that fewer than 600 people were hospitalized with COVID-19, while federal data placed the number at around 1,800. The number of hospitalizations has been a key metric in understanding the virus's toll and the healthcare system's ability to cope. In 2022, New York gave officials the authority to hospitalize people living on the streets and suffering from severe mental illness, even against their wishes.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 7 January 2022 |
| Number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 | Thousands |
| Number of children hospitalized with COVID-19 | Grown substantially in recent weeks |
| Number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 who need treatment for the virus | Minority |
| Comparison to April 2020 | More people hospitalized |
| Omicron variant | Likely to keep the surge going through January |
| Healthcare staffing | Shortages |
| Test availability | Shortages |
| Healthcare worker resignations | Small fraction due to vaccine mandates |
| Tests ordered | 12 million |
| "Test to Stay" program | Implemented to keep public schools open |
| Reporting delays | 14-day lag |
| Daily and weekly data updates | Every Thursday |
| Monthly data updates | First Monday after the 14th of each month |
| Involuntary hospitalizations | Allowed for people with mental illness who pose a threat to themselves |
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What You'll Learn
COVID-19 hospitalizations in New York
As of 2022, New York State had witnessed a surge in COVID-19 hospitalizations, with numbers exceeding those recorded during the first wave in April 2020. This increase in hospitalizations was driven by the Omicron variant, which particularly affected teens and unvaccinated individuals. Despite these concerning figures, it's important to note that most hospitalized patients who tested positive for COVID-19 did not require specific treatment for the virus itself.
The state's healthcare system faced challenges due to staffing shortages and vaccine mandate controversies, which led to some healthcare workers leaving their jobs. However, Governor Kathy Hochul's data suggested that the situation might be less dire than other metrics indicated. Vaccinations, masking, and social distancing likely played a role in mitigating the impact of the virus.
As of September 2023, New York State stopped tracking day-to-day COVID-19 cases, and health experts no longer considered the number of COVID tests or test positivity rates as accurate indicators of the virus's spread. Instead, experts turned to wastewater surveillance to estimate changes in COVID-19 cases. This method involves testing wastewater from the sewage system and measuring the amount of COVID-19 genetic material present.
While New York City continues to provide vaccinations, boosters, and guidance on quarantine and isolation, the focus has shifted from tracking daily cases to relying on other indicators, such as hospitalization and death rates, published with a 14-day lag to accommodate standard reporting delays. The city's ongoing response to COVID-19 is reflected in its efforts to monitor and adapt to the evolving nature of the virus.
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Hospitalization reporting discrepancies
In 2020, the Trump administration instructed hospitals to change the way they reported data on their coronavirus patients, which was supposed to provide better, more up-to-minute information about the virus's impact. However, this move caused confusion, resulting in information blackouts in several states, including New York, Idaho, and South Carolina. As a result, there were discrepancies in hospitalization data, with federal data often differing from state-reported numbers. For instance, in September 2020, New York state reported fewer than 600 hospitalizations, while federal data placed the figure at around 1,800.
These discrepancies can be attributed to differences in reporting methodologies and definitions used by federal, state, and local entities. For example, the federal government may include suspected COVID-19 cases in their hospitalization counts, while states might only report confirmed cases. Additionally, reporting delays and data lags can further contribute to inconsistencies between data sets.
In New York City, hospitalization data is published with a 14-day lag to accommodate standard reporting delays. Daily and weekly data are updated every Thursday, while monthly data is updated on the Monday following the 14th of each month. These updates include hospitalization rates over the last 28 days of available data.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, hospitalization numbers were closely monitored as a key metric of the virus's impact and the healthcare system's capacity. However, it's important to distinguish between patients hospitalized for COVID-19 and those who test positive for the virus during their hospital stay for unrelated reasons. In New York, the majority of patients who tested positive for COVID-19 were seeking treatment for other conditions, indicating that the healthcare system could manage the caseload better than some data suggested.
In addition to COVID-19 hospitalizations, New York City has also grappled with the involuntary hospitalization of homeless individuals experiencing mental illness. In November 2022, the city's mayor, Eric Adams, announced a directive giving officials discretion to hospitalize people living on the streets with severe mental illness, even against their wishes. This initiative aims to provide assistance to those in urgent need of treatment but often refusing it. However, critics argue that without a permanent housing plan, hospitalization alone may not be an effective solution.
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Involuntary hospitalizations for mental illness
Involuntary hospitalization for mental illness is a complex issue that has been the subject of debate and legal scrutiny in New York. In June 2023, New York City Mayor Eric Adams directed law enforcement and emergency medical workers to hospitalize individuals deemed too mentally ill to care for themselves, even if they posed no threat to others. This directive raised concerns among advocates for people with mental illness and faced opposition from some city officials.
Existing state laws in New York already allow both the police and medical professionals to involuntarily hospitalize individuals whose behaviour poses a threat of "serious harm" to themselves or others. This is further supported by Kendra's Law, which has been in effect since 1999 and grants judges the authority to mandate psychiatric treatment for individuals who meet specific criteria, including those who are unlikely to survive in the community without supervision and those with a history of non-compliance with treatment.
However, the Brooklyn Center for Independence of the Disabled argued that involuntary hospitalization constitutes "discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act." City Councilwoman Tiffany Cabán also criticized the mayor's plan, emphasizing the importance of consent in responding to mental health crises. The policy raised questions about its scope and implementation, acknowledging the limited legal guidance for mental health evaluations based on brief interactions.
To address these concerns, New York City announced immediate training for police officers, Emergency Medical Services staff, and other medical personnel to ensure "compassionate care." The city's new directive emphasizes a case-by-case assessment of individuals in public spaces to determine their ability to access basic needs such as food, shelter, and healthcare.
Involuntary hospitalization in New York is governed by the Mental Hygiene Law, which grants specific individuals the authority to admit someone with mental illness into a treatment program involuntarily. This law also provides individuals who have been involuntarily admitted with the right to request a hearing within five days of their admission. Additionally, under the law, an individual can only be kept in involuntary admission for 48 hours unless the first physician's finding is confirmed by a second physician.
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Hospital capacity and intensive care
During the COVID-19 pandemic, hospital capacity and intensive care availability were closely monitored in New York, as in other places. In September 2020, there was confusion over the number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 in New York State, with state data reporting fewer than 600, while federal data placed the figure at around 1,800. This discrepancy was due to a change in data reporting protocols, which led to a temporary blackout of information.
In January 2022, New York faced another surge in COVID-19 hospitalizations, with numbers higher than at any time since April 2020. However, it was noted that the majority of patients who tested positive for COVID-19 were in hospital for other reasons, indicating that the healthcare system was better equipped to handle the surge than in previous waves. Additionally, vaccinations, masking, and social distancing had played a role in reducing the severity of the pandemic.
Despite this, the healthcare system faced challenges due to staffing shortages, and there was criticism of the governor, Kathy Hochul, over a lack of tests and the impact of vaccine mandates on healthcare worker retention. The omicron variant was driving cases upwards, and it was predicted that many people would suffer from long COVID as a result.
Outside of the pandemic context, there has been a focus on hospitalizing people experiencing homelessness and severe mental illness in New York City. In November 2022, Mayor Eric Adams announced a policy that would give officials discretion to hospitalize people living on the streets with severe mental illness, even against their wishes. This policy aimed to address the "crisis" of untreated mental illness among the city's homeless population. However, critics argued that without a plan for permanent housing, hospitalization alone would not solve the issue.
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Omicron variant hospitalizations
As of July 2025, Covid cases are rising across the United States, with the NB.1.8.1 variant being the dominant variant in the country, accounting for 43% of all new Covid cases. This variant is an offshoot of the XVD.1.5.1 strain, which is a descendant of the Omicron variant.
While the NB.1.8.1 variant has been linked to surges in hospitalizations in China, the World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that current data does not indicate that this variant leads to more severe illness than other variants. In fact, weekly hospitalization rates in the United States have remained low, suggesting that the new variant may not be leading to severe illness.
In New York, as of January 2022, there was a surge in hospitalizations due to the Omicron variant. The number of children hospitalized for Covid-19 had also grown substantially, especially among unvaccinated teenagers and preteens. However, it was noted that a majority of hospitalized people who tested positive for Covid-19 were pursuing treatment for something other than the virus, indicating that the healthcare system was better positioned to handle the surge than some data suggested.
Overall, while the Omicron variant led to an increase in hospitalizations in New York, the situation was not as dire as some public health metrics indicated. Vaccinations, masking, and social distancing likely played a role in mitigating the impact of the variant.
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Frequently asked questions
New York state reported that fewer than 600 people were hospitalized with COVID-19, while federal data released the same day estimated the number to be around 1,800.
In January 2022, New York saw more people hospitalized with COVID-19 than at any other time since the first wave of the pandemic in April 2020. The exact number of hospitalizations is not mentioned.
In New York, daily and weekly hospitalization data are updated every Thursday, and monthly data are updated on the Monday following the 14th of each month.
Yes, there have been discrepancies in the COVID-19 hospitalization data in the US due to changes in data reporting protocols. In 2020, the Trump administration instructed hospitals to report data to HHS instead of the CDC, leading to confusion and temporary information blackouts in several states, including New York.
In New York City, officials have the discretion to involuntarily hospitalize individuals experiencing homelessness and severe mental illness, even if it goes against the person's wishes. This policy is aimed at providing assistance to those who pose a threat to themselves or are unable to care for themselves.
