New York is seeing a rise in the cases of coronavirus, flu and respiratory syncytial infection and Mayor Eric Adams solution is to tell the people of New York to start wearing masks again.
On Tuesday, Mayor Adams said, ‘When COVID-19 hit New York City almost three years ago, New Yorkers looked out for each other and followed the advice of our health experts. With the holiday season in full swing and cases of COVID-19, flu, and RSV rising, we are asking New Yorkers to protect themselves and their loved ones once again. Mask up, get tested, get treated if you’re eligible, and, if you haven’t gotten your flu shot or your COVID-19 booster, we encourage you to roll up your sleeve.”
According to Staten Island Councilman, Joe Borelli, “You want to wear a mask? Fine. But I do not want to go back down the slippery slope of a mask mandate. There’s no appetite for it. The COVID pandemic is well in my rearview mirror.”
Borelli acknowledged that the advisory from City Hall was OK to a point, but does not want to see mask mandates return anywhere in New York. The last mandate issued by Gov. Kathy Hochul was lifted in September for all public transit and Mayor Adams lifted the mask mandate for kids in public schools in March.
New York State Health Department has reported an increase in hospitalizations and death from Covid-19 in the past week, however the major increase in cases has been residents contracting the flu and RSV. Mayor Adams has not mandated any mask wearing, but has encouraged all New Yorkers to wear masks whenever possible while indoors in crowded areas.