NYC NOW - Midday News: Break-In at Gracie Mansion, Applications for E-Bike Charging Stations Open, Cold Snap Coming, and Health Tips for the Winter Season

Episode Date: January 3, 2025

Police have arrested a 20-year-old man in connection with a break-in at Gracie Mansion on New Year’s Day. Starting February 1, NYC property owners and tenants can apply for e-bike charging stations to be installed on sidewalks outside their buildings. The National Weather Service is forecasting a windy week with dropping temperatures and possibly some snow. Plus, WNYC’s Tiffany Hanssen speaks with acting NYC Health Commissioner Dr. Michelle Morse about how to stay healthy during the winter season.

Welcome to NYC Now, your source for local news in and around New York City from WMYC. It's Friday, January 3rd. Here's the midday news from Michael Hill. A 20-year-old accuser breaking into the official residence of Mayor Adams has been charged with burglary and illegal entry. Police said the man jumped offense at Gracie Mansion on the Upper East Side. This happened early New Year's Day. The NYPD says he made his way to the second floor where he was found inside a bathroom minutes after entering the residence.

A spokesperson for the mayor says he was not home at the time. The man's bail was set at $5,000. He's due back in court on Monday. Property owners and tenants can apply for a e-bike charging stations on sidewalks in front of their property starting February 1st. It's one of the initiatives the city is taken to reduce fires caused by lithium ion batteries, which the FDNY says is a levyctuary. leading cause of fire deaths in the five boroughs.

If you thought the cold this week was brutal, there's more to come. The National Weather Service is predicting another windy winter week with even lower temperatures. After some anticipated snowfall on Monday, National Weather Service meteorologist James Tomasini says being outdoors next week will feel about 10 degrees colder than the actual temperature. So we do kind of stay, you know, in somewhat gusty conditions. each day looks like you can have gusts up to 20 to 25 miles per hour. You know, the air will then feel colder with those winds.

Temperatures start to drop this weekend. Tomorrow will be another gusty day with wind chills as low as 15 degrees. Fahrenheit, snow is expected to dust the region overnight Sunday into Monday. 38 and partly sunny now chance of flurries this afternoon. Mostly cloudy, a high near 40, gusters we said, real field just above the teens. and then tomorrow partly sunny and 35 still gusty. Stay close. There's more after the break. Here on WNYC, I'm Tiffany Hanson. It's winter and colder temperatures.

Shorter days and holiday cheer aren't the only hallmarks of this time of year. It's also respiratory virus season. Here with a look at the latest numbers and tips on how to stay healthy in the weeks ahead is New York City's acting health commissioner Dr. Michelle Morris. Hello, Dr. Morris. Hi, Tiffany. Thanks for having me. You got it. All right. Let's just start with a broad look at flu, COVID, RSV. They are common this time of year. How is this season shaping up broadly, let's say, as compared to last year? Absolutely. This is the time of year when we get very worried about the number of viruses circulating. And again, as you said, it's common for this time of year. We're right smack dab in the middle of respiratory viral season. And we are seeing very significant.

increases in rates of influenza right now, specifically, also known as flu. In fact, over the past week or so, we've seen about a 70% increase in the number of cases of flu specifically. We are also watching very closely for COVID as COVID rates also tend to start to swing up this time of year. And RSV has been very, very commonly circulating right now this time of year. We've seen rates go up over the past several weeks, but believe it or not, over the past week or so, we've actually seen about a 3% decrease in RSV. Now that doesn't mean New Yorkers should relax because we are still in the middle of respiratory viral season. This is the time of year when we expect it. And just about anywhere you go right now, you are likely to confront one of these viruses circulating around

you. So let's talk about RSV a little bit. You said numbers have dropped slightly. First of all, just remind us what RSV is. And then why do we think those numbers are dropping? RSV stands for respiratory syncytial virus. It is a really common respiratory virus that causes cold-like symptoms. Those symptoms are quite similar to other viruses and flu symptoms, sneezing, runny nose, cough, congestion, fever, etc. And although it is a very commonly circulating virus this time of year, it can cause severe illness, including things like pneumonia or even hospitalization in some groups of people that are more vulnerable. Those include very young people and infants as well as elders who are at risk of complications. You mentioned the numbers

for flu transmission. How are the numbers for COVID transmission looking right now? You said flu is up quite a bit. Flu is up quite a bit. Flu is the top of the list for circulating and increasingly circulating viruses right now. But you are right. Flu is not the only thing. COVID is still circulating. We're not seeing as steep of a rise in COVID cases as we've seen in flu cases. But again, it is still out there. And again, RSV is also quite heavily circulating. So it is pretty common for us to see these three viruses circulating at different rates. They kind of have their own timeline. And it's not uncommon for one to kind of, you know, spike and the other may change or stay the same or decrease or plateau. So the most important thing is to know that all three are actively

circulating, flu is going up much more than the others, and it's not too late to get vaccinated. In fact, most New Yorkers should go out there if they haven't done it already and get their flu, updated COVID vaccine, and their RSV vaccine if they're eligible because it is not too late, and these viruses are still flowing around in the air just about everywhere that you will be. You know, these viruses have, you know, symptoms that all sound pretty darn similar when you're talking about cough, fever. Is there really a way to know what? whether you've got one or the other and really doesn't matter. I'm so glad you asked that question, Tiffany.

It is exactly right. The symptoms are quite similar for flu, COVID, and RSV. It may be hard to tell based on symptoms. So we encourage anyone who is experiencing any symptoms of a cold or a virus to talk to your medical provider and talk with your provider about getting tested because some folks actually might qualify for a treatment that could make their symptoms, go resolve more quickly and could prevent them from complications like pneumonia, hospitalization, or worse.

So we encourage everyone to talk to your provider, ideally get tested, and then again, stay home if you have those symptoms because the last thing you want is to be spreading those symptoms and those viruses to others around you or in your community. We know that these viruses can often, you mentioned, you know, young people, babies, the elderly, they can affect different. populations differently. So maybe talk a little bit about who is more at risk than others. Absolutely. Yes, this is very important information. Not everyone's risk is the same. It is a little bit different for each of the three viruses, but in general, older folks should

are at high risk, and that's partially because as you age, your immune system actually shifts and changes a bit and gets a little weaker. And older folks are also more likely to have co-occurring chronic illnesses or underlying conditions. And so those things age, your immune system not working as well, whether that's because of age or an underlying disease, and having underlying chronic conditions. All those things really increase your risk of having a complication from flu, COVID, or RSV. And in addition to that, young folks are at risk, particularly newborns and infants. They are at risk in particular for complications from RSV, but we're lucky in that there are some really great ways to prevent all three of these viruses, and particularly for our infants,

for RSV, and for pregnant people, RSV as well, either vaccines or monoclonal antibodies, depending on what your provider recommends. So lots of ways to protect yourself, but there are definitely populations out there and groups out there that are at much higher risk of complications, like pneumonia, hospitalization, or worse, and we strongly encourage those folks in particular, older folks and infants and babies, to get vaccinated, number one. And if you're going to be outside, consider wearing a mask. Make sure you practice hand hygiene. And again, if you have any symptoms, talk to your provider, get tested, and stay home. Well, you mentioned, you know, hand washing. And of course, you know, folks may opt to wear a mask on the subway or when

they're out in general and large crowds. What else on top of the those things can folks do to keep healthy? Well, I know that there's been a lot of conversation and attention to long COVID in particular in recent days and weeks. And I want to emphasize that the best way to prevent long COVID is to not get COVID in the first place. And it's COVID unfortunately causes long-term symptoms in many people. So again, the best way to prevent all of those symptoms is what you describe, Tiffany.

So it is the hand hygiene. It is wearing masks in high-risk places. particularly if you are in a population or a group that might have higher risk of complications, it is getting that vaccine. You know, all three vaccines have been proven to be safe and effective. And I want to emphasize to New Yorkers, whether you have insurance or are documented or not. We have opportunities through our website to make sure all New Yorkers know where they can get a vaccine for free and where they can get care for free. and that is at NYC.gov slash health.

So you can find all that information there. So those are the things that really are going to be protective for yourself, for your family, for your community, and for all of New York City at large in this time when the viruses are just about everywhere. Dr. Michelle Morse is New York City's acting health commissioner. Dr. Morris, thanks so much for all the great information and happy new year. Thank you, Tiffany. Happy New Year. Thanks for listening.

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