Following the explosive first wave of the pandemic that left 30,000 New Yorkers dead by summer 2020, New York’s levels of infection have remained relatively low, with far fewer deaths reported during subsequent peaks. But the state has faced a record surge in reported cases in the past week. In response to the Omicron variant’s emergence, New York City officials announced last week that the city would provide a half-million at-home rapid tests along with a million masks, both of which will be distributed through community groups. City-run testing sites are also having their hours extended.