The omicron variant is pushing New York to record numbers of COVID-19 cases. On Christmas Day, Governor Kathy Hochul reported about 36,000 new cases—the majority of which came from New York City.

Some early evidence points to omicron being milder than delta, but the new variant on the block spreads much faster than its predecessor, which means it still carries the potential to overwhelm hospitals. And while there are reports that most of these cases are mild, that doesn't necessarily mean this variant is not a concern.

WNYC's health and science editor Nsikan Akpan spoke with All Things Considered host Sean Carlson about what a mild omicron case really means—and feels like—and how this surge could affect New York City's healthcare system. You can hear the full conversation by clicking "listen" in the player, and for more details, head to Gothamist.