De Blasio Says Masks Aren’t the Solution to Increasing COVID Cases, ‘Vaccination Is’ – CBS New York

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – More and more concerns about Delta variant.

It is spreading rapidly across the United States, and locally, the highly contagious strain of bacteria that makes up most of the COVID-19 cases.

READ MORE: Educators on Long Island combine lessons about the heart, mind, and body this summer to rediscover what’s been lost due to the pandemic

On Monday, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended that everyone over the age of 2 wear a mask this upcoming school year, and the Centers for Disease Control issued a travel warning for the UK, for know even fully vaccinated travelers may be at risk of catching and spreading the variants.

It even misled investors, with stocks plunging Monday amid fears this could threaten the US economic recovery, CBS2’s Vanessa Murdock reported.

In New York City, at least one City Council member is calling for an indoor mask mandate, but Mayor Bill de Blasio say vaccines are the best way.

“Immunization is the reason we are in a very, very different situation than other parts of the country are suffering,” de Blasio said.

The DOE should provide a remote option for children under age for immunization and are centrally operated rather than individual schools. I support live instruction 5 days a week for everyone, but we need to follow the science and adapt accordingly while providing flexibility for families

– Mark Treyger (@MarkTreyger718) July 19, 2021

Mark Treyger, the chairman of the City Council’s Education Committee, is making his position clear on the school’s plans. On Twitter, he wrote, in part, “The DOE should provide a remote option for under-vaccinated children,” adding, “I support one-on-one instruction 5 days a week for everyone, but we need to follow the science and adjust accordingly…”

De Blasio said New Yorkers have stepped up: 4.5 million people are fully immunized. That’s 53.5% of the population.

Watch: Mayor Bill de Blasio Discusses Duty to Wear Masks, Vaccinations, and More

That includes Marcie Goldberg, who believes New York has handled its COVID response better than anywhere else in the country.

“I have very little fear walking around the Upper West Side or anywhere in Manhattan,” says Goldberg.

Sabila Khan’s father died of COVID last April, before a vaccine was available. She told CBS2’s Jessica Layton that she wishes more people would take this new spike seriously.

“I think if people knew how horrible the person was gasping for air, literally. If they understood what that is like, I think they would take more precautions,” said Khan.

Khan, from Jersey City, has been vaccinated, but often wears a mask in public, especially indoors.

“Our child is still unvaccinated,” she said.

“More than 98% of those hospitalized or died from COVID-19 this year in New York City were not fully immunized. So the choice is clear,” said Health Commissioner Dr David Chokshi.

It’s even more so now than before, says Chokshi, as the Delta variant is responsible for 69% of COVID cases in the current city.

“It’s really a more dangerous time than now to not get vaccinated because of how contagious the Delta variant is,” Chokshi said.

News of the variant was the driving force behind Upper West Side resident CJ Claffey to sign up for the vaccine.

“I’ll get mine this week,” Claffey said.

He said it’s time to protect himself and the people he cares about.

READ MORE: The Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department will not enforce county masking duties

Cases are on the rise in the city: Average daily cases are 516. Positive rate 1.69%, with hospitalizations 0.35 per 100,000.

Cases are increasing in NYC (2x increase in last 2 weeks), due to deltas.

Indoor mask use in NYC is decreasing — in delis, stores, subways, movie theaters, etc.

We need to reverse this trend.

It’s time to renew the mask mission in the house, including for those who don’t like it.

– Mark D. Levine (@MarkLevineNYC) July 17, 2021

“They have actually tripled in the last two weeks, more than 500 new cases a day. At the same time, New Yorkers are also less likely to wear masks,” said City Councilor Mark Levine, who chairs the Health Commission.

Levine emphasizes the need to do something now to quell another wave.

“Are you promoting the re-installation of the mask mission?” Murdock asked.

“Yes. At least, a guideline recommends from public health authorities,” Levine said.

Levine said he believes a mission will inspire unity among New Yorkers. Murdock asked New Yorkers their quest for such a proposal.

“I think it depends on the person,” Claffey said.

“I don’t think so,” Goldberg said.

VACCIUM-PROTECTION OF COVID

Flavie Bagnol said: “It is very difficult to know if people are vaccinated, so I would say, yes, let’s wear masks.

When asked about the possibility of reviving the masked mandate to address the surge in cases, the mayor’s response was quick and unequivocal.

“The simple answer: No,” de Blasio said. “Masks are not the root of the problem, vaccinations are.”

New shirt Governor Phil Murphy boast that the vaccine is 99.92% effective.

“For your family, for your community, for public health, for common sense, for your own health, get vaccinated,” Murphy said.

“If you get vaccinated, you’ll be safer, period. If you are not vaccinated, you are very vulnerable,” de Blasio said.

Chokshi said the mask rule remains in effect for public transport, schools and other high-risk facilities, such as healthcare facilities.

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CBS2’s Jessica Layton contributed to this report. Editor’s Note: This story was first published on Monday, July 19.