NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — Mayor Bill de Blasio is strongly recommending that all New Yorkers wear masks indoors as part of an effort to curb the spread of the delta variant and is also mandating vaccinations for new city workers.
The guidance, which falls short of a mandate, comes days after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last week advised all Americans, regardless of vaccination status, wear masks in public indoor settings in areas seeing significant spread of COVID-19.
"We want to strongly recommend people wear masks in indoor settings even if you're vaccinated, this is particularly true if you may be around anyone unvaccinated," de Blasio said during his Monday morning briefing. "If you don't know the people you're around, if you're not sure if they're vaccinated or not, or if you know some are unvaccinated, it is absolutely crucial to wear a mask even if you are vaccinated."
The recommendation is in line with New York state, New Jersey and Connecticut, which all continue to encourage mask wearing, but do not require it.
Prior to the updated CDC guidance, all New Yorkers were already required to wear masks on public transit, hospitals and health care settings, schools, and congregate settings. Masks were also required for the unvaccinated in all indoor and outdoor public settings.
"We need to keep putting points on the board against the virus and that's where masks come in," city health commissioner Dr. David Chokshi said. "Today, I'm making a strong recommendation that everyone regardless of vaccination status wear a mask in public indoor settings, this is based on our review of the latest scientific evidence showing that the delta variant of the coronavirus can spread even more easily than was previously thought."
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"Even though I have been fully vaccinated I will be wearing a mask in public indoor settings in part because I am the parent of a young child who is not yet eligible for vaccination and I want to take care to protect her," Chokshi added.
Some city leaders are not pleased with only a recommendation for masking up from the mayor.
"We've been saying time and time again we need clear, concise, and quick leadership and messaging and we repeatedly are not getting that," said Public Advocated Jumaane Williams.
The latest example, he said, is the mayor's refusal to order everyone to wear masks indoors again as the delta variant blankets New York.
"It is a dereliction of duty and dereliction of leadership," Williams said.
City Councilmember Mark Levine, chair of the health committee, said he doesn't buy the mayor's argument that a mask mandate would deter people from getting vaccinated.
"I just don't accept that. We haven't had a mask mandate in New York City since May and the rate of vaccination has plummeted over that period so that didn't work," Levine said.
They also would like to see another mandate form the mayor telling places like restaurants, movie theaters and nightclubs to only admit people who are vaccinated, reported WCBS 880's Steve Burns.
De Blasio, meanwhile, continues to focus on getting more New Yorkers vaccinated.
On Monday he announced that all new city employees will be required to show proof of vaccination before reporting to work.
"The responsibility that we shouldered is also a legacy for new employees that entails inspiration but also obligation," Chokshi said. "We serve New Yorkers and nothing is more important than their health. This is why new employees joining city service must now be vaccinated against COVID."
The city will continue to offer $100 to those who get their first shot at city-run vaccination sites.
Monday is also the first day that city healthcare workers will have to be vaccinated or tested once a week.
New York City's COVID positivity rate has ticked up slightly to just over 2%, but hospitalizations remain low.
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Gov. Andrew Cuomo said there were more than 2,500 positive COVID cases reported in New York State on Sunday and nine new deaths.
The state's positivity rate is 2.68%. There were 738 people in the hospital with COVID and 52 of them are on ventilators.
About 67% of New Yorkers are fully vaccinated. In New York City, 41% of those eligible still have not gotten their first shot.