“All New Yorkers are advised to wear masks indoors”
The New York Department of Health has announced that it is renewing its recommendation to wear masks inside businesses and other enclosed spaces, but at this point it is only a recommendation and not mandatory. The change comes against the backdrop of a spike in viral morbidity in recent weeks
Corona virus is spreading in all five boroughs of New York City, and the City Department of Health is urging residents to return to using masks in certain situations.
Illustration (Photo: AP)
According to a statement from the Public Health Department published yesterday, the five districts have returned to the highest level of risk (according to the criteria set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the CDC).
Because of this, the department has recommended wearing masks in businesses that are indoors, as well as in open and crowded spaces (e.g., in Times Square). “To slow the spread of the virus, all city residents should wear quality masks such as N95, KN95 or KF94 when they are indoors or in a crowded open space area,” the statement said.
We’re currently seeing high levels of COVID-19 in NYC. To help slow the spread, all New Yorkers should wear a high-quality mask, such as an N95, KN95 or KF94 in all public indoor settings and around crowds outside: https://t.co/B6U7bSKPVV pic.twitter.com/Z1Pgt0nAPU
— nychealthy (@nycHealthy) July 8, 2022
The rate of positive tests in the city currently stands at about 15.4%, but in a number of neighborhoods the figure is even higher, including Central Harlem (20.9%), Ukrville (20.1%) and Richmond Hill (about 21%).
The good news is that the number of hospitalized remains stable, so the issue of masks will remain a recommendation only, and will not become mandatory as it has been for most of the last two and a half years.
Illustration (Photo: Getty Images)
“In general, we have quite a few corona patients, but few of them come to the intensive care unit and therefore no disruptions are caused to the day-to-day operations of the hospital,” explained Dr. David Hirschwerk, a senior at North Shore University Medical Center in Long Island.
Regarding the question of masks, Dr. Hirschwerk explained that the issue “makes sense when it comes to abnormal morbidity, but on the other hand one can understand those who are frustrated by everything that is happening and are not interested in doing so.”
As you may recall, the CDC announced last year a change in policy, with hospital congestion being considered a more critical measure than general morbidity. For example, last week we reported that the health authorities in Los Angeles are considering whether to re-order the obligation to wear masks in closed spaces in light of the jump in the number of people hospitalized with Corona.
Dr. Barbara Ferrer, director of the Los Angeles Department of Public Health, hinted at the possibility and said: “Unfortunately, I think people do not listen to our recommendation because it is a recommendation and not a must. “We can say with certainty that masks, especially N95 and KN95, prevent the spread of the virus,” she said, adding, “Ultimately, wearing a mask is not such a terrible thing, and if more people do it we can prevent a situation where we force everyone to wear masks in business.”
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