On Roosevelt Island, many of us took off our face masks as soon as wearing them became optional. But across New York City, that fueled a raging tripledemic. The City now reports 3,600 daily COVID cases alone. And that number is low because most people test at home.
by David Stone
The Roosevelt Island Daily News
“With the holiday season in full swing and cases of Covid-19, flu and R.S.V. rising, we are asking New Yorkers to protect themselves and their loved ones once again,” Mayor Adams said at a press conference.
Locally, RIOC President/CEO Shelton J. Haynes has never used the authority of his office to encourage COVID safety precautions and is not expected to now.
But Public Safety, after much urging, tackled the challenge of face mask mandates on Red Buses and the Tram. At the mayor’s prompting, they may do so again.
But real safety probably depends on the community looking after one another voluntarily again. Some have continued wearing face masks as a precaution, and more will follow suit.
Adams and DOHMH Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan reminded New Yorkers to stay safe this holiday season and protect themselves and their loved ones against rising cases of COVID-19, flu, and RSV.
Follow the Mayor’s Face Mask Advice
It’s good advice, and while indoors in public places, everyone should take it. For Roosevelt Islanders, at a minimum, that means while traveling on Red Buses and the Tram.
Flu and RSV testing, along with Tamiflu prescriptions, are available at 50 NYC Health + Hospitals’ Test to Treat units. Updated COVID-19 Pfizer vaccines can be accessed at all 11 public hospitals for children aged six months to four years old.
By masking in indoor public settings when possible, testing regularly, staying home if sick, and getting vaccinated for both the flu and COVID-19 booster vaccines, New Yorkers can work together towards a happy and healthy holiday season.
Let’s look out for each other.
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