Mayor Bill de Blasio Photo: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office
Dec. 15, 2020 By Allie Griffin
Mayor Bill de Blasio said New York City could face a second shutdown after Christmas–should COVID-19 cases continue to rise.
“We’re dealing with a second wave…,” de Blasio said. “We’re going to need to do some kind of shutdown in the weeks ahead.”
The mayor said that while the state ultimately makes the call as to whether to close nonessential businesses, he would recommend a shutdown go into effect following the major holiday.
“My nomination would be right after Christmas,” the mayor said.
The holiday season is expected to cause a significant uptick in the already soaring number of new COVID-19 cases, health experts say. On Sunday, the number of new cases climbed to more than 2,800 — far above the city’s ideal threshold of 550 new cases.
“We want to be under 550,” de Blasio said. “It’s going to take weeks and weeks to get back down there, but we will, especially now that we have the vaccine on our side.”
De Blasio estimated that nearly 41,000 doses of the vaccine would be disbursed across 42 hospitals around the city by the end of Tuesday.
“Today we start the beginning of a new era,” de Blasio said. “Today we begin the work of ensuring that the vaccine reaches as many New Yorkers as possible as quickly as possible.”
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20 Comments
New Yorkers brought the numbers down last Spring because they sacrificed a lot and, for the most part, they followed the NY&NYC Covid guidelines. Many decamped to other places to live in a less dense environment, to rejoin with their families, or to preserve their health and avoid being around those who refused to follow the guidelines. Who can blame them?
Nobody I know fled the state so they could party and spread the virus.
The state and the city are broke now and are not going to be giving out cash rewards for those who stayed. The feds might eventually kick in some stimulus, but I expect taxes and prices to go up, and more cutbacks to come.
Shut down businesses? Why not raid parties where all the morons congregate and sentence them to prison time for not complying. If NYC really wants to drop the number of cases, start enforcing masks. Fine people thousands and see if they will keep taking their masks off. Businesses comply with the rules, so why should they be the ones to blame for all of this?
Awful. Blaming people for De Blasio’s and Cuomo’s mess.
I see it as the folks who ignore DeBlasio & Cuomo as the real problem. They’ve been urging people to be cautious, to wear masks, and to social distance. If everyone did this, we’d be in a better place. It’s so easy to blame the Mayor & the Governor but it’s the citizens who aren’t cooperating.
People is trying to get out the house. I don’t see this ending well if another full shut down is coming.
Who’s gonna re-elect this guy? You all are gonna re-elect this guy! Now go buy your TP!!
And a shutdown will do what, except impoverish us and leave more people destitute and dependent on Big Bird DeBlasio for help. Vaccines are coming: this is NOT the time to shut down. The only people who support shutdowns are those who will have more coming in regardless.
what about the Lack of Wifi in Homeless Shelters? Is the mayor going to address that issue? There are so many homeless shelters near by. What are the people suppose to do during the day if things are shut down again?
Being a New Yorker I completely agree with shutting down and locking down the city. People stopped following the health guidelines and the infection rate went out of control again so they have no one to blame but themselves.
Move to North Korea with that talk of locking down people.
Anyone who is critical of shutdown please go volunteer at a hospital and really risk everything!
Merry Christmas!
I blame people ignoring the masks and safe distance 100%.
Made stocking up before the storm much easier when some places removed their street dining areas before the snow. I actually found parking.
What bought the numbers down after the first wave was people fleeing NYC and spreading the virus in other states. Those of us that can not afford to leave deserve a stimulus from the city or at least some kind of discount like in utility bills. Everything in the city even more expensive after covid 19.
I hate how all the assistance programs are based on what ya made BEFORE throat demic.
I guess we all might have more time to take dwn our Christmas decorations this year which is good news. Last year i took them down after Valentine’s day and a neighbor of mine took them down after the fist lockdown before Easter.
With the predicted snow storm and the announcement of a full possible shutdown food and supplies at my local supermarket is practically empty. Its so stressful and scary. People are panicking.
You MUST go buy toilet paper before it runs out.
De Blasio Recommends Full Shutdown of NYC Businesses After Christmas [Except for the Gym He Goes to Put in a Tepid Workout Before Sauntering in to Work at 11am Like Most Commoners]