New York Gov. Kathy Hochul had a clear message for families and educators on Sunday: It’s time to ditch the masks in schools • Full Story

New York City on Monday issued an advisory strongly recommending that everyone wear masks indoors at all times regardless of vaccination status, amid concern about the new, highly mutated strain of COVID called “omicron”, Dr. David Chokshi, commissioner of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, told reporters during an update • Full Story

Coronavirus Czar Prof. Nachman Ash this evening (Thursday) briefed reporters following the rise in morbidity and called on the public to wear masks. Ash said: “We are close to returning to the obligation to wear masks in closed spaces, I recommend doing so now” • Full Story

A group of Hasidic men were forced to deplane a Delta flight from Miami International Airport to LaGuardia, Wednesday night. Initial reports say that the incident unfolded after an elderly Chassidish man took off his mask, allegedly for a brief moment to eat something. Video shows the apparent son, saying that his father has heart issues, and that he has trouble breathing, “So he took off his mask for a minute,” the video shows • Full Story