Dr. Stephanie Silvera Comments on Omicron Subvariants in New Jersey

The latest omicron subvariants have been found in parts of New York. And they’re probably spreading in New Jersey too.

“If it’s in New York, it’s in New Jersey. It’s just a matter of how much,” said Dr. Stephanie Silvera, Professor in the Public Health Department, and infectious disease expert.

The important data to monitor are hospitalizations and intensive care patients, not infections, as the majority of New Jersey residents have been vaccinated to some degree.

“I think there’s a little bit of crossing fingers,” Dr. Silvera said. “I do think that we’re gonna see an increase in cases. I don’t think it’ll be a surge like we saw in January or December, but there will be an uptick in cases. And as numbers go up in terms of cases, there will be a slight increase in hospitalizations and death. I don’t think we’re gonna see a dramatic increase in hospitalizations and deaths.”