Students React to NYC Mask Mandate Lift
Words by Micaela Lue
On March 4th, 2022, the mask mandate ended in New York City, allowing people (regardless of vaccination status) to enter indoor facilities without a mask. Mayor Eric Adams believed it was time for a change in New York City, as cases steadily went down from the Omicron surge we saw in December of 2021.
At City College, the rate of positivity went down from 2.60%, (cumulative safety metrics from August 25th, 2021 to March 20th, 2022) to 0.60%, (weekly safety metrics from March 14th, 2022 to March 20th, 2022,) a two percent difference. The numbers have gone down, but will they stay down?
There is a lot of controversy around this issue, as many feel that the move is premature and will harm rather than benefit the community. Others feel that the move is long overdue. I asked City College students what they thought about the mandate removal to gain perspective on this issue.
Leila Peña-Giancoli said, “I honestly feel like it’s really risky to do, at the same time I don’t always wear a mask around campus, but I understand the importance of following COVID safety procedures. I do feel safe walking around campus without a mask.”
City College requires all students taking in-person classes to be vaccinated, except for religious or medical reasons. This along with the random COVID-19 testing program undoubtedly aid in the feeling of comfort walking around campus maskless. This sentiment was shared among another CCNY freshman, who was excited about the lift for a variety of reasons.
“I feel great about it. With walking up the hill and going to class, I’m out of breath because the escalators don’t work. I don’t have to worry about keeping my mask up. It’s been two years. I can see people’s faces now. I feel more connected to my peers,” says another freshman.
Masks have also provided a layer of comfort, as they add a literal meaning to the phrase “hiding behind a mask.” To some, covering one's face reduces concern about appearances and judgment about looks. With this, though, comes fear of “mask fishing.” A term born from the phrase “catfishing,” mask fishing refers to the fear that one's actual face will be a “letdown” of sorts, in comparison to what the preconceived notion of what one's face looked like. In short, people are scared that their natural faces will be perceived as less attractive than their imagined faces.
One student echoed this fear, stating that he liked to “hide under his mask,” and grew comfortable doing so. Another student agreed, saying that she would keep her mask on for this reason, more so than to protect against COVID.
Whether the lifting of the mandate was the right move or not will continue to be seen. As it stands now, all we can do is sit tight and do what makes us the most comfortable.
