Easing COVID restrictions was on Mayor Eric Adams’s mind yesterday as he released a statement about face mask and vaccine mandates. Schools and businesses will be greatly affected, provided infection rates keep falling.

by David Stone

The Roosevelt Island Daily News

Easing COVID Restrictions

“I want to thank the millions of New Yorkers who have gotten vaccinated to help stop the spread,” Mayor Adams said. “New Yorkers stepped up and helped us save lives by reaching unprecedented levels of vaccination.”

He followed with two major announcements.

Public School Indoor Mask Mandate

“More than a million New York City school children will return to class tomorrow after a week off. At the end of this week, we will evaluate the numbers and make a final announcement on Friday. If we see no unforeseen spikes and our numbers continue to show a low level of risk, New York City will remove the indoor mask mandate for public school children, effective next Monday, March 7.”

That’s good news and not just for classrooms. It also signals recognition that the pandemic is easing its two year grip on New Yorkers.

For Businesses and Public Spaces

“Additionally, New York City’s numbers continue to go down day after day, so, as long as COVID indicators show a low level of risk and we see no surprises this week, on Monday, March 7 we will also lift Key2NYC requirements.”

Key2NYC is the rule making proof of vaccination a minimum requirement for entering almost all public spaces for people 5 years old and above.

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Stack Work Advances While Answers Do Not

HPD told the CAG there was no projected start date and that five business days’ notice would be given. Work on the eastern smokestack began six days later.

Theo Gobblevelt Jul 3, 2026

On June 17 and 18, HPD told the first meeting of the Roosevelt Island Steam Plant Demolition Community Advisory Group that smokestack demolition had no projected start date. Residents and the CAG would receive at least five business days’ advance notice once a date was set. Scaffolding around the stacks could not proceed until soil removal and backfill were complete and the area stabilized.

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