New York City has moved from a “low” to “medium” COVID-19 alert level due to a rise in cases in the five boroughs, the city’s health commissioner said Monday. 

As of Monday morning, cases had “surpassed a rate of 200 per 100,000 people,” warranting a “new risk alert level,” Dr. Ashwin Vasan said in a statement.

While officials previously said the “medium” alert level would not come with any new restrictions, Vasan advised New Yorkers to “exercise even greater caution than they have the last few weeks.”

The city is “strongly” recommending masks in public indoor settings, he said. New Yorkers should also get tested for COVID-19 before and after attending gatherings and continue to get vaccinated and boosted, he added. 

“The coming weeks will be critical to slowing the spread of COVID-19 and getting back to a low risk level so we can more safely enjoy our spring,” he said. “And remember, the steps you take to protect yourself also protect others, especially those most vulnerable.” 

The New York State Department of Health last month said two “highly contagious” omicron subvariants were fueling a rise in COVID-19 cases across the state.

Speaking at an unrelated news conference Monday, Mayor Eric Adams, who recently recovered from COVID-19 himself, credited the  COVID-19 vaccine and booster shot for his quick recovery.

“Vaccines and boosters work. I just had a tickle in my throat. I was able to exercise in the morning. No loss of breath and no conditions other than that, and I think that we need to acknowledge what happened using my case as a case study,” Adams said. “Had a tickle in my throat, immediately went to get tested, found out it was COVID, I went home and stayed home. That is where the winning ticket is for our city.”

When asked to sum up his message to those worried about another surge, Adams said, “I say to New Yorkers, let’s take necessary precautionary steps: wear your masks, get tested, get vaccinated, get booster and we can weather this storm.”