Despite spiking COVID-19 cases in New York related to the rise of the omicron variant of the virus, officials at state and federal courts on Wednesday said they have not made major changes to operations as they rely on the remote capabilities and infection control procedures established during previous increases in infection rates.

In the Southern District of New York, Chief Judge Laura Taylor Swain said late Wednesday that remote access would be allowed for some criminal proceedings, in light of the new “highly transmissible” form of the virus.