In previous months, the number of COVID-19 cases in New York City has been exponentially high. This is logical, as approximately eight million people inhabit this place, and it’s the highest populated city in the United States. However, as cautious citizens have taken measures to prevent themselves from getting COVID-19, the number of cases has dropped. Case numbers have dropped so much that new and more lenient rules have been created regarding masks and vaccination status.
On Feb. 27, Mayor Eric Adams stated, “If we see no unforeseen spikes and our numbers continue to show a low level of risk, New York City will remove the indoor mask mandate for public school children, effective next Monday, March seventh.” Currently, this statement is in full effect and, in addition to the removal of a mask mandate, there has also been a removal of a vaccination mandate in select public businesses and schools.
In public schools, masks are only required for children under five years old because they are not old enough to receive the vaccine. Other U.S. cities, such as Dallas and Houston, have also made masks optional to wear at school. In addition, Los Angeles, the second-largest city in America, is ending the mask mandate at school on March 11 (The New York Times). Therefore, it appears as if other major cities are following in New York City’s efforts at loosening their COVID-19 requirements to return to normalcy.
The easing of mask requirements in New York City schools is not the only instance of Mayor Adams’ attempt to fall back into a pre-COVID-19 routine. He has also ordered restaurants and other indoor venues to not require people to show proof of vaccination anymore. In previous months, customers needed to show any public entity they wished to enter verification that they have been vaccinated. Now, these individual industries can decide for themselves whether they will require people to show proof of vaccination or not. This gives these businesses the power to establish their own rules and regulations.
While many businesses may choose to lift their mask and/or vaccination requirements, other ones, such as Broadway, are not. Here, the front-runners of one of the most iconic and popular theaters have decided to continue to require patrons to be masked and vaccinated. They have decided to wait until April to reassess their rules. In addition, people are still ordered to wear masks on mass transit and at medical facilities. Both areas easily subject people to COVID-19 exposure, making them ineligible to break the precautions that are already in place.
Citizens in New York City are torn about this news. Some feel that it is dangerous and irresponsible to not require people to be masked and/or vaccinated in certain places. Others feel that this new rule is a positive step taken to return to normal society. Overall, the main goal is to keep people safe and healthy, while still allowing people to have freedom. The loosening of previous mask and vaccine rules is not something everyone will be able to agree on, but it is an aggressive move taken by Mayor Adams to allow society to feel normal once again.
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