On Friday, New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced that starting next week, he would be suspending the "Key to NYC" requirements within the city, and school children will no longer be required to wear masks.
Despite this long-awaited announcement for many New Yorkers, a small portion of the population will still be required to wear masks.
"Masks will continue to be required for all settings with children under 5 years of age, including programs contracted by the New York City Department of Education with 3- and 4-year-old children as well as 3K and 4K classrooms in district schools," Adams announced.
Many on Twitter responded with outrage over the decision to keep masks on the city's youngest population.
Not for 2-4 year olds. They have to be masked.
— Kait S (@Kaitlin17281735) March 4, 2022
My heart is so heavy today.
— Natalya Murakhver (@AppletoZucchini) March 4, 2022
I should be celebrating that my own kids will say goodbye to their school masks at pick-up.
But I can't stop thinking about the toddlers & preschoolers who continue to be held hostage to political, anti-science policies that will continue to harm. pic.twitter.com/FqTIIVWHW8
We can come together again. We can have peace. We can stop seeing each other as enemies.
— Jesse Kelly (@JesseKellyDC) March 4, 2022
As soon as that woman is thrown in a prison cell for a few days with a mask duct taped to her face.
Then we can come together. pic.twitter.com/j5UWl9E7CL
On Monday, this will be the only demographic in NYC forced to mask to help stop the spread of Omicron.
— Justin Spiro, LCSW (@Jusrangers) March 3, 2022
I hope adults feel safer. pic.twitter.com/52d68Alk1j
Today, Mayor Adams said about K-12 kids unmasking:
— Cara Eisenpress (@EisenPress) March 4, 2022
"We want to see when they’re feeling sad so we can feel them to comfort them. Masks prevented us from doing so for almost two years."
He also ordered masks kept on kids aged 2-4.
Some noted that they will not be sending their pre-K students to school in masks this coming Monday, regardless of the rules.
I am not sending my Pre-K student in a mask on Monday, and neither should you. If the city continues with this anti-child, anti-science policy, they can pay for the masks. I'm done.
— Daniela Jampel (@daniela127) March 4, 2022
Others claimed that toddlers were not required to wear masks "prior to vaccines."
To be clear, toddlers in NYC were NOT required to wear a mask prior to vaccines. Today, they are the ONLY age group required to mask while nearly 97% of New Yorkers are vaccinated. My mind is about to explode.
— Mom in Brooklyn (@caroline_in_BK) March 3, 2022
Another person noted that these children have long mask-free breaks that would potentially negate the effects of wearing masks.
A reminder in Licensed NYC Daycares & Preschools 2-4 year olds do not socially distance. They have 3 snack breaks, lunch plus a 90 minute nap. Any “benefits” to masks is negated by these long, distance-free, breaks. I used to think NYC housed the smartest people in the world.
— Brooklyn Mom Sorta Kinda (@graciefacelove) March 4, 2022
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