As we mark the two year anniversary of the pandemic and turn the corner on the Omicron wave, we are entering a new and confusing moment for making decisions about our individual and collective health risks.
In this next phase of the pandemic, our strategy must be grounded in public health data, with systems in place to protect vulnerable New Yorkers, to detect future variants early, and to respond quickly.
Last week, as our City lifted mask requirements and ended vaccine requirements, I spoke out with Public Advocate Jumaane Williams about how our city can take steps to protect vulnerable New Yorkers and be more ready to respond to future surges in cases. We called for:
- Preserve a broad surveillance testing program.
- Make clear to New Yorkers what the metrics are for easing and imposing new restrictions going forward.
- Prepare now to rapidly expand our testing and response capacity at the first sign of the next variant or surge.
- Maintain adequate public health infrastructure and personnel.
- Keep a focus on vaccination and education in vulnerable communities.
- Announce a requirement for full COVID vaccination for students to return to school next fall (with appropriate health and religious exceptions).
- Continue the in-school COVID testing program.
- Commit to ensuring that communications of school-related COVID policies are communicated to families in the official New York City languages.
- Develop a long-term ventilation and air quality strategy to move past stop-gap measures.
- Provide every school and contracted PreK and 3K with a consistent supply of high quality masks.
- Offer an opt-in approach for teachers and students who wish to remain in all masked classrooms.
Learn more about recommendations here.
While we cannot live our lives paralyzed by fear, it would be foolish and dangerous not to be prepared. We cannot go backwards in our fight to keep our neighbors safe and healthy. New York City has broadly done a strong job of vaccination, but recent school-by-school data shows how dramatically uneven that protection is. And so many New Yorkers remain at high risk for infection for one health reason or another. A compassionate city owes them the opportunity to live safe and full lives.
By investing smartly in our public health infrastructure, communicating clearly, and being prepared to scale up precautions as needed, we can keep ourselves and each other healthy.
With hope,
Brad
Brad Lander served in the New York City Council representing District 39 for 12 years—co-founding the Progressive Caucus and leading the way alongside advocates to win policies to support workers, protect tenants, and make government more transparent. Recently elected to citywide office, Brad will use the Office of the Comptroller to hold city government accountable to its promises to New Yorkers and secure a more sustainable future.
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Lander 2025
68 Jay Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201
United States
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