Hochul considers mask ban during air quality alert and COVID surge

NEW YORK CITY — Gov. Kathy Hochul said she is considering banning face masks, particularly on public transportation, following several anti-Semitic acts involving masked protesters in New York this week.

The same week, an air quality alert was issued for the Big Apple, along with an uptick in COVID cases. Read more: Severe thunderstorms target New York as air quality alert issued

Hochul’s remarks came during a press conference addressing a series of recent incidents surrounding Israel-Hamas war protesters, including the vandalism of the director of the Brooklyn Museum and an incident on Monday in which “A group wearing masks took over a subway car, scaring passengers and chanting about Hitler and the elimination of Jews,” she said.

Local and state police are currently investigating the “despicable and disgusting” incidents, she said, noting that increased patrols will be added at “high-risk” locations across the city.

Related: Protesters vandalized Upper East Side building before fleeing: NYPD

“We will not tolerate individuals using masks to evade responsibility for criminal or threatening behavior,” Hochul added. “My team is working on a solution, but in a subway, people should not be able to hide behind a mask to commit crimes.”

Hochul and Adams are “considering” taking legislative action on the issue, the governor noted.

The subway car incident follows reports that protesters waved Hamas and Hezbollah flags at a Wall Street area display commemorating the victims of the Nova Music Festival massacre Monday night, according to the office from Mayor Eric Adams. During other demonstrations, a banner reading “Long live October 7” was held up.

Hochul first commented on the possible resurgence of the mask ban during an appearance on CNN on Monday.

“(The ban) has been repealed… but I’m absolutely going to go back and take a look at it and see if it can be reinstated because it scares people,” Hochul told CNN. The defunct law, which for centuries banned the wearing of masks during protests, was repealed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Adams appeared to support Hochul’s consideration during an interview on the “Cats & Cosby” radio show on Thursday.

“Dr. King did not hide his face when he marched and for the things that he believed were wrong in the country,” Adams said. “These civil rights leaders did not hide their faces. They stood up. Unlike that, the Klan hid their faces.

But public health data might suggest otherwise: While hospitalizations have plateaued in New York, transmission levels have doubled since April, according to New York Health Department data.

The National Weather Service also issued an air quality alert for New York, Bronx, Kings, Queens, Richmond, Westchester and Rockland counties on Friday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. The alert warns that the air quality index could exceed more than 100.

These levels can affect sensitive groups, including the elderly, and experts recommend limiting time spent outdoors.