New York’s New Covid Surge Is Deep, But Less Deadly This Time Bloomberg 12/11/2020 (Bloomberg) -- New York, once the epicenter of the Covid-19 pandemic, sits on the brink of breaking its case record from last spring. The impact of this latest surge, though, is almost unrecognizable from those nightmarish early days. For now, the state is staving off the repercussions of the current spike in cases, with ample hospital capacity and one of the nation’s lowest death rates. Dozens of other states are being overridden with hospitalizations, and seeing deaths climb to new highs. The contrast is a testament to the lessons New York residents and officials have learned in the last several months. The question facing them now is how long can New York keep the virus at bay, and whether all the excitement over an impending vaccine -- and the flouting of Covid-fighting rules -- could lead to a relapse.