Holiday Party Sparks COVID-19 Outbreak in Manhattan DA's Office

Coronavirus Pandemic

By ShaCamree Gowdy Published: December 20, 2021

Holiday Party Sparks COVID-19 Outbreak in Manhattan DA’s Office

A bus stop ad for COVID-19 testing is shown outside Pfizer world headquarters in New York on Monday Nov. 9, 2020. Pfizer says an early peek at its vaccine data suggests the shots may be 90% effective at preventing COVID-19, but it doesn't mean a vaccine is imminent. Officials are reiterating calls for residents to get vaccinated after an off-site holiday party sparked a massive outbreak within the New York District Attorney's Office. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)

In Summary

An off-site holiday party in New York has sparked a major COVID-19 outbreak in the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office.

COVID-19 cases are surging across New York, including within the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office.

An offsite holiday party sparked a major outbreak within the department, per CNN, with Bonnie Sard, the DA’s administrative assistant, writing in a letter that the increase in COVID-19 cases “has caused significant staffing shortages, disruptions to the department’s practice, and other challenges.”

It’s unclear how many employees tested positive, but according to Sard’s statement, some of the employees are having mild to moderate symptoms so far, and those who tested positive must quarantine themselves.

A number of employees have also been urged not to report to work “out of an abundance of caution.”

“In addition, we are strongly discouraging all bureaus, units and departments from hosting off-site holiday parties,” Sard said in the letter, per NY Daily News. “We urge you to get a COVID-19 vaccine booster right now if you still have not received one.”

An increase in COVID-19 cases across New York has forced the reinstatement of precautionary measures, ranging from facial coverings being required inside all public spaces as well as colleges and universities going back to remote learning.

The New York Times reported that virus cases in the state had increased by 56% in the last 14 days and hospitalizations increased by 25%. New York officials also recorded 21,027 new coronavirus cases, the highest single-day total since the pandemic’s early stages, on the same day.

President Biden has unveiled a new plan to protect Americans against COVID-19 this winter, which includes providing treatment pills to help prevent hospitalizations and death, boosters for all adults, and a continued commitment to global vaccination efforts.