NEW YORK (1010 WINS) – People plan to burn their masks in New York City and on Long Island on Thursday in celebration of new state guidelines relaxing mask-wearing for vaccinated people.
There’s a “mask-burning ceremony” scheduled in both Manhattan and Southampton in the afternoon, according to the New York Post.
One of the events will be at the Empire Steakhouse in midtown and the other will be at the Blu Mar in Southampton, according to the report.
Guardian Angels president and Republican mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa is hosting one of the events. He told the Post, “Each person who will be attending will be taking their masks and throwing them into the inferno we create.”
Sliwa said the “mask liberation day” is “all about reopening New York City.”
At his Thursday briefing, Mayor Bill de Blasio responded to the planned events, including that people planned to burn their masks to the song “Disco Inferno.”
“Let’s just say that I appreciate that people are—you know, they went through so much, and New Yorkers showed incredible discipline,” the mayor said. “And folks are going to celebrate their freedom in a variety of ways. But the best way is to go and make sure that everyone in your life is vaccinated, so we can ensure that this freedom is lasting and reaches everyone.”
On Wednesday, New York state began adopting the CDC’s new guidance on mask wearing and social distancing for fully vaccinated people.
The new guidance means vaccinated people don't have to wear masks or social distance outside or inside in most circumstances. Masks will still be required in some settings, including schools, mass transit, health care facilities, nursing homes and homeless shelters.
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