BP Mark Levine Informs NYC How It Can Stay Healthy and Stay Open

The following statement was submitted by Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine.

Spring is around the corner, and New York City is on the rebound now that the terrible omicron wave is behind us.

This is in large part due to so many New Yorkers making the right choices to protect themselves and others – by getting their vaccine, wearing masks, and making personal sacrifices to protect vulnerable New Yorkers.

To protect these tremendous gains, we must take steps to ensure we are ready to keep future waves down.

That means heeding the warning signs coming from Europe. The latest data shows a troubling new wave gaining steam, which health experts think is due to the rise of a highly contagious omicron subvariant (BA.2), waning immunity, and loosening of restrictions.

This is why this I released the “Stay Healthy To Stay Open” plan to keep our comeback on track.

The centerpiece of our plan is a big push to get our booster rates up. Vaccines, especially boosters, are continuing to work well to prevent serious illness – including against the BA.2 variant. That’s why it’s so critical NYC catch up on boosters.

In this video, the Manhattan Borough President makes a COVID-related announcement alongside Dr. Jay Varma and COVID Czar Aldrin Bonilla.

We need a “Get Boosted” campaign that provides every New Yorker who isn’t boosted with a text, email, and postcard with an appointment and location for a booster shot. There are 3.4 million people in this city who have gotten their initial vaccine series but still don’t have their booster. For many, this appointment will be just the push they need.

We also need to focus on giving New Yorkers the tools they need to prevent our city from backsliding. This includes making high-quality masks available in every building, providing Covid Safety Bags to everyone, and improving our data collection systems so that we see the warning signs earlier and can react faster.

I encourage you to read about our plan in the handy one-page explanation below or listen to my office’s Covid Recovery Task Force member Dr. Jay Varma and I discuss our plan on The Brian Lehrer Show.

We have come so far together, but we cannot let our progress prevent us from staying vigilant. That way we can enjoy a wonderful spring and beyond.

Stay safe.

Source: The Office of the Manhattan Borough President