Good morning. Today we’ll take a look at why Mayor Adams hasn’t reinstated mask duty despite a new surge of Covid-19 – and why some health experts disagree with him. Also: If you don’t like going back to the office, imagine how your dog would feel.
By the number of new Covid-19 cases reported each day in New York City top 4,000 this week, the message the mayor seems to be sending is: As you have been. We have received this.
He made no public warnings. He has not reinstated masking mandates for indoor public settings, although a new warning system he approved in March recommends doing so at the level of risk the city has now. must face to face.
Even as city schools require – but do not require – that older students continue to wear masks, Mr. Adams allowed his recent decision so that students are not immunized on high-level proms.
Students can “celebrate all their efforts with a prom and graduation, regardless of immunization status,” he said in a press release, adding, “I highly recommend Encourage anyone who hasn’t been vaccinated to do the same.”
Three main considerations behind my colleague Mr. Adams’ approach Emma G. Fitzsimmons reports: The number of hospitalizations and deaths increased more slowly than in previous episodes. The new restrictions could cost him politically with a weary public. And he worries that the mandates could affect the city’s restaurants, tourism and economic recovery.
“If all the variations emerge, we move into a closed-door mindset, into a state of panic, we won’t function as a city,” Mr. Adams said.
Former city officials and many health professionals disagree.
Medical experts have argued that acting when Hospitals and medical staff are overwhelmed or about to be – as Mr. Adams said – would be too late. Since most home tests are not counted in the city’s statistics, it is likely that there have been far more new daily cases than the official number. As of Tuesday, more than 770 city residents have been hospitalized with Covid.
Dr. Dave Chokshi, health commissioner under Mayor Bill de Blasio and during Mr. Adams’ early months as mayor, speak The city recently took action on “collective dementia.”
“People will say, ‘Well, the case numbers are going up, let’s see what happens with the hospitalizations,” he said. “It’s hard not to have your head explode when you feel the public, and in many cases, political conversation, going in those circles. And you’re like, “Well, when are we going to learn.”
Mark Levine, Manhattan district president, said the city should be more nimble and “turn protections on and off when we have problems.”
There were mixed messages from City Hall. Health Commissioner, Dr Ashwin Vasan, ordered on Monday Strong recommendation Medical masks in offices, grocery stores, schools and other indoor public facilities.
Mr. Adams highlighted the benefits of antiviral drugs like Paxlovid, which are free and offered via door-to-door delivery to eligible city dwellers. His administration says it has distributes 35,000 antiretroviral treatments.
New Yorkers report mixed experiences to the drug hotline. For some, all went smoothly, but for others, the process required a smartphone video consultation and ordering from an online pharmacy, confusing. Others said they had been denied prescriptions despite meeting the criteria.
Weather
A mild sunny day is forecast with possible light showers and lows in the 70s. Partly cloudy in the evening, with temperatures in the mid-60s.
PARKING OUTSIDE
Valid until May 26 (Ascension).
Court day in Buffalo
Payton S. Gendron, the gunman charged in Saturday’s massacre at a Buffalo supermarket, appear in court on Thursday, when prosecutors announced that a grand jury had voted to convict him. Some of the relatives of the 10 people he was accused of killing were expecting.
Gendron, 18, has pleaded not guilty. The judge adjourned the proceedings until June 9.
Gendron will face life in prison if convicted, and he will continue to be held without bail, Erie District Attorney John J. Flynn said.
Latest New York News
Separation anxiety is growing for New Yorkers and their pandemic pups
In April 2020 – ridiculously early, as we all know – The Wall Street Journal published a point / point about whether it’s time for office workers to return to work.
The first was “America needs to get back to work.” The author – pictured, as usual, in a black-and-white dot portrait in Vintage Magazine – is A Cat. The rebuttal, by A Dog, is titled “Why not work from home forever?”
Now, for many of New York’s dogs, the worst is happening.
More than 23 million won American households added a cat or dog during the pandemic. Many of these animals have never known what it feels like to be left alone all day. And while many cats may be thrilled with their new domination, for dogs, it’s hard to tell who’s more worried — them or their humans.
Kate Senisi, training director at School for dogs in Manhattan’s East Village, told my colleague John Leland.
Mary Sheridan, an attorney with a small apartment in the East Village, likens her return to work – leaving behind a pandemic-stricken puppy for the first time, Nala – ending maternity leave with son Theo, now 13 years old.
“You’re going to panic – Oh, my God, I’ve got this baby, and I’ve been leaving the baby all day,” she said.
Without a doubt, a warm dog nearby has alleviated the stress for many people who work from home.
Follow Mishmish. Actually, don’t. He was the best thing that ever happened to our family, the little poodle that we said we would never have a visitor for a few weeks after the pandemic. He’s the main thing the kids miss when they go back to school.
But when I’m out reporting all day, I suspect he’s mostly sleeping, storing up energy for a giant greeting. A neighbor who was with him the day before said he was perfectly happy hanging out with a stranger. Maybe we’ve just been lucky enough to meet a dog who is the least nervous member of the family.
Some dogs may run fast, whine or chew on things when left alone, trainers say.
But Raf Astor, who catches and walks dogs in the East Village, said the dogs he saw adjusted well. Those are the people he worries about.
METROPOLITAN . Diary
Heavy weight is lifted
Dear Diary:
I’m waiting with the kids at stop B103 on 4th Avenue in Brooklyn. My daughter, who was 6 years old at the time, found a gold ring on the ground. I can even say it’s not made of cheap plastic. Maybe an engagement ring?
“Someone lost their ring,” said my daughter.
“They might need it back,” my son said.
Later that day, we returned to the bus stop and posted a notice: “Found here: Lost Gold Ring; clear gem. Text me a description and we’ll get it back to you.”
Two days later, a message arrived. The young woman who sent this message said that she had recently been dumped by her longtime boyfriend.
The ring was a gift from him, and what she says was a healthy moment of self-awareness at stop B103, she decided to drop it right there.
When she did, she said, she felt like a huge weight. She doesn’t want the ring back, she added, but it’s the kind we recommend.
I read texts to my children. It was followed by a long conversation about love, marriage, breakups, and the next step.
“What should we do with the ring?” I ask.
Finally, we headed back to the bus stop, where my daughter placed the ring under a patch of concrete so it wouldn’t get lost.
– Tate Hausman
Illustrated by Agnes Lee. Send submissions here and Read more Metropolitan Diary here.
