Page 2 - aruba-today-20220305

A2 UP FRONT
Saturday 5 March 2022

their staff had to enforce
the rules with customers
and, at times, weather their
frustrations.
"Regardless of what some-
one's opinion is of the vac-
cination requirement, it's
put restaurant workers in an
extraordinarily difficult posi-
tion," he said. "We hoped
that people would respect
workers but it's been really
tough."
The rules also barred star
Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie
Irving from playing home
games with the team. But
Adams said that he plans
to preserve a rule requiring
private employers to en-
sure their workers are vac-
cinated, which would ap-
ply to Irving.
By lifting the Key2NYC rule,
Irving would be allowed
to attend the Nets' home
games as a spectator but
not play.
Recently, New York City
has been averaging just
under 680 new coronavirus
Patrons Fe Copper with "Lucky," left, and friend Ria Patterson with "Gianni" drink coffee at the Grand Central Los Angeles in Los An- cases and 25 deaths each
geles Friday, March 4, 2022. day, down from nearly
Associated Press 41,000 new cases and
nearly 130 deaths per day
Continued from Front VID to define us." Masks are still required in parents and teachers were at the height of the omi-
The moves to ease the "We're far from out of the all K-12 school districts until agitating for a return to re- cron wave in January.
mandates comes as gov- woods. COVID is still here. March 12. After that, dis- mote learning as the omi- The virus continues to hos-
ernment officials around But we are beating it back," tricts may maintain their cron wave swept through pitalize and kill New York-
the U.S. have been easing Adams said. own mask requirements. schools and attendance ers with greater frequency
COVID-19 guidelines and He invited "people from Business owners also can plummeted. now than it did last summer
signaling that the risk of vi- Canada, from Arkansas, choose to require masks for The teachers union said Fri- and through much of the
rus spread is retreating — at from New Zealand, from customers and employees. day it supports the move to fall, when many of the vac-
least for now. anywhere else," to visit At Coffee Fix in the Studio lift the rule. cination and school mask-
Illinois lifted face mask re- and spend money and im- City neighborhood of Los Children under age 5 would ing rules were imposed.
quirements for many in- plored New Yorkers to "go Angeles, owner Tae Kim still have to wear masks be- Around 4,000 city residents
door spaces on Monday, out this weekend and go said the change in masking cause they are not eligible have died of the virus since
and Boston will lift similar dine." rules has been a bit confus- for the vaccine. Jan. 1, more than in the
rules on Saturday. Chicago The Democratic mayor ing for customers. The city's vaccine man- previous nine months com-
stopped requiring proof of said he was confident that One customer Taylor Lewis, date, imposed last year in a bined.
vaccination to dine in res- it would be safe, starting who was wearing her mask, program called Key2NYC, Not everyone agreed with
taurants. The U.S. Centers Monday, to send children said it was "so nice seeing required New Yorkers and the move.
for Disease Control and and teachers to school people's faces" but she tourists to show proof of The city's public advocate
Prevention said last week unmasked and no longer would continue to wear her vaccination to enter res- Jumaane Williams, who
that most Americans can require some businesses mask out of habit in indoor taurants and bars, work out served as an elected om-
now safely take a break to check guests' vaccine places. in gyms, catch a movie, at- budsman, called it "unnec-
from wearing masks, in- cards. "With the ever-changing tend a Broadway show, go essary and unwise" to re-
cluding students. The decision to ease rules in facts that are given to us I to a convention or visit a move the vaccine require-
New York City Mayor Eric Los Angeles County aligns see the good in wearing it," museum. ment while lifting other rules
Adams, declaring it was with new California guide- she said. Not all of those places and people needed to feel
time to "celebrate" as he lines unveiled allowing vac- In New York City, the elimi- are ready to drop the re- safe.
stood in Times Square on cinated or unvaccinated nation of the school mask strictions. The Broadway Adams, responding to crit-
Friday, said the city need- people to choose to go requirement is a striking League has said it will ics on Friday, said "there's
ed to recover and that "we without face coverings in turnaround from just a few maintain mask and vacci- no decision you can make
are not going to allow CO- most places. months ago, when some nation requirements in all in New York that you're
its theaters at least through going to get 100% of New
LIKE US ON April 30. Andrew Rigie, the Yorkers" to agree with.
executive director of the He said some people may
New York City Hospitality be reluctant to dine out
Alliance representing res- without vaccine rules but
taurants, bars and night- said he thinks most New
clubs, said Friday that he Yorkers are ready.
thinks few venues will con- "We are all right, folks," Ad-
Facebook.com/arubatoday/ tinue to impose vaccine ams said. "We're doing the
rules on their own because right things."q