NYC mayor Eric Adams avoids COVID restrictions despite case surge

After more than two years of dealing with the COVID-19 outbreak, some of the country’s largest cities are reintroducing mandates to keep people safe.

Following a dramatic surge in reported infections, Philadelphia has officially announced that individuals must once again wear masks.

In New York, city officials are avoiding any return to restrictions, instead relying on the general public to get vaccinated.

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“Booster, vaccination, that can be the difference between hospitalization and even worse, I want to encourage every New Yorker to get boosted and vaccinated,” Adams replied in a hoarse voice that his COVID-19 doses had only caused minimal symptoms.

The mayor has joined a growing list of high-profile officials who have tested positive for the disease. BA-2, according to health officials, is to blame for the present increase, which comes at a time when New York’s restrictive COVID requirements have been eased and more people are flocking to the Big Apple, increasing area businesses.

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“It’s getting warm out; the jump we’ve seen this spring has definitely been sizeable in the sense that it’s really people coming back to the city,” Cutlets Sandwich Shop owner Richard Zaro stated.

Despite the latest city data, which showed daily average increases in both the number of people testing positive and the overall number of confirmed and probable cases, Mayor Adams wants to keep the momentum continuing. Cases are still significantly below the recent omicron variant winter peak in January, according to the mayor, and he sees no cause to reinstate the mask mandate.

“Well, it’s a combo of things we’re looking at. We’re looking at the infection rates, as well as deaths, and how fast it is spreading,” he said. “The doctors have created what scenario will cause us to move to the next level. We’re not there yet, and when we do we will announce it.”

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“I hope we do whatever the public health officials tell us to do. They’re the experts,” a local said.

In order to help restrict the spread of the virus, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said it’s even more crucial now to stay up to date on vaccine doses and be tested before travelling, ahead of the spring vacations, which are soon approaching.