By: Fern Sidman
Issuing warnings about the very likely possibility that a harsher second wave of the Coronavirus will strike New York City in the near future, Mayor Bill deBlasio said that the citizens of the Big Apple had best prepare themselves for a virus onslaught that is dangerously close in approaching.
Before addressing the measures being taken to curtail the number of Covid infections now plaguing a growing number of New Yorkers, the mayor expressed his unbridled optimism and palpable exuberance over Joe Biden being elected president as well as praising the Vice President Elect Kamala Harris.
The mayor told those reporters gathered for the briefing, “first of all, what an amazing moment in our history. I can’t say enough times – I can’t offer my congratulations enough times. I’m going to keep doing it over and over and say, congratulations to President-elect Joe Biden, who I really think will help to heal our nation. And congratulations to Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, who is going to do so much for this country, in so many ways, but, right away, is proving to our country that everyone belongs in leadership and everyone’s needed in leadership.”
Speaking of how very different the upcoming end of the year holiday season will be for New Yorkers who are still struggling to survive in the throes of a pandemic that has claimed the lives of over 230,000 people across the country, the Mayor said, “I was very blunt this morning, the numbers are really worrisome and we do profoundly face the danger of a second wave of the coronavirus. We have to take intensive action to stop it. That’s up to every New Yorker to wear their masks, to practice distancing, to really be careful about gatherings, including the family gatherings that we love at the holidays. It’s not the time for family gatherings, except for people who live under the same roof already.”
He added that “Now, unfortunately, we’re seeing a real growth in the positivity rate in this city and that is dangerous. We’re seeing household transmission. We’re seeing community spread. We’re seeing things we have not seen in a long time – and we have to stop them.”
According to a NYP report, the citywide infection rate on a seven-day rolling average is at 2.21 percent, while the daily percentage of people testing positive citywide is at 2.36 percent, the data shows.
Additionally, the Post reported that 71 people were admitted to city hospitals with suspected COVID-19 and 29.58 percent of them tested positive for the bug, according to the latest data.
The mayor also placed an emphasis on limiting travel on the holidays. He unequivocally declared, “It’s not the time for travel. Even if people want to go back to their homelands, as they do every year, it’s not the year for it. There’s too much danger. So, I want to encourage people to not travel.”
Concerning the growing controversy over the lingering coronavirus hot spot “red zone” status that the predominantly Orthodox Jewish neighborhoods of Flatbush, Midwood, and Gravesend in Brooklyn had been forced to endure in order to substantially diminish the number of virus infections, Governor Cuomo also held a conference call earlier on Monday with reporters.
He took the occasion to announce that the red zone areas in Brooklyn would now transition to the “orange zone” after “great progress” was made in decreasing the number of those testing positive for the Covid virus.
According to a NYP report, restrictions in orange zones include 33 percent capacity limits at houses of worship, mass gatherings of 10 people maximum both indoors and outdoors, the closure of high-risk non-essential businesses like gyms and all schools, both public and private are shuttered. Outdoor dining only with a four-person maximum per table is permitted for the time being.
Cuomo’s COVID-19 color-coded cluster zone restrictions first went into effect in parts of Brooklyn and Queens in early October.
Speaking directly to the Jewish communities most effected by the virus, Mayor DeBlasio applauded the efforts made by community leaders who consistently exhorted people to get tested. The elected officials and community leaders also urged people to scrupulously adhere to the mask wearing and social distancing guidelines that were set forth by the city.
“I want to thank everyone in the community who did so much to overcome the crisis we had in the last few weeks. I saw so many community leaders who stood up and provided great leadership as well as community organizations, synagogues, and yeshivas,” said the mayor.
