NYC Residents Should Consider Masking Up For The Holidays: CDC

NEW YORK CITY — New Yorkers should mask up for the holidays, or else risk giving loved ones an unwelcome viral gift, experts warned.

With the "tripledemic" spread of COVID-19, RSV and seasonal flu still looming over New York City and across the nation, along with lagging vaccination rates, CDC Director Rochelle Walensky offered a stark reminder of longstanding mask advice this week.

“One need not wait on CDC action in order to put a mask on," she said in a call with reporters.

“We would encourage all of those preventive measures — handwashing, staying home when you’re sick, masking, increased ventilation — during respiratory virus season, but especially in areas of high COVID-19 community levels.”

COVID-19 levels in New York City are officially "increasing" and influenza infections recently exploded 100 percent in a single week, data shows.

But masking is no longer mandatory in most places in New York City, leaving it to everyday city dwellers to do so or not.

New Yorkers are encouraged to wear a high-quality mask in all public indoor settings and around crowds outdoors, according to the city's COVID-19 prevention guidance.

Masking is still recommended for people using public transportation, although it is no longer required on MTA subways or buses. People with weakened immune systems or for other reasons are at heightened risk for severe respiratory illnesses are also encouraged to wear face coverings.