We use cookies on this website. By continuing to use this site without changing your cookie settings, you agree that you are happy to accept our privacy policy and for us to access our cookies on your device.
Transcript/ScriptUSAGM SHARE
PLAYBOOK SLUG: US - NEW YORK-COVID SURGE
HEADLINE: Americans Shed COVID Precautions Despite New Surge
TEASER: Tired of the pandemic, New Yorkers drop masks and social distancing as COVID alert level rises.
PUBLISHED AT: Wednesday, 5/18/2022 at 620pm
BYLINE: Aron Ranen
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: New York City
VIDEOGRAPHER: Aron Ranen, Igor Tsikhanenka
PRODUCER: Igor Tsikhanenka
SCRIPT EDITORS: Igor Tsikhanenka, MAS
VIDEO SOURCES: VOA
PLATFORMS: WEB__TV_X__RADIO___
TRT: 2:39
VID APPROVED BY: MAS
TYPE: TV
UPDATE: ))
[[INTRO]]
[[The number of US counties considered to be at high risk of spreading COVID has almost tripled in the last two weeks, according to the CDC. In New York City, the COVID alert level has risen to high, and the number of cases has doubled in the last month. Despite this, a new poll suggests many Americans have stopped wearing facemasks and social distancing. Aron Ranen has the story]].
((NARRATOR))
[[nats, PLAYING in Le BARATIN]]
New Yorkers have dropped their masks.
[[NAT SOUND MUSIC PLAYING in Le BARATIN]]
Scores of restaurants and bars are packed. It’s much like the pre-COVID days.
((Adela Veljovic, Restaurant Customer (In English) ))
“Absolutely not worried at all. I will not wear a mask even on the subways, I don't wear a mask, we don't wear it at work. So no, I will not be wearing a mask.”
((Kaleb Breslin, New Yorker (In English) ))
“If you wear a mask on the subway, you're probably being smart about it, anywhere else is unnecessary.”
((NARRATOR))
Michael Touchard is the owner of Le Baratin, a small bar-restaurant in the city’s West Village.
(Michael Touchard, Le Baratin Restaurant Owner (In English) ))
“Basically, I think there is a surge, but I think people are just living their lives and putting COVID on the back burner for the moment. As a business owner, I think it's everyone, it should be everyone's choice.”
((NARRATOR))
New York is not the only city where fewer people are wearing masks and social distancing. Americans are abandoning health protocols across the board. In a Gallup survey, 50 percent of respondents said they had not worn a mask in the last week. The study also found that the level of social distancing among Americans had dropped to about 17 percent.
((NARRATOR))
Dr. Jay Varma is a Professor and Director of the Cornell Center for Pandemic Prevention and Response in New York City.
((Dr.Jay Varma, Cornell Center for Pandemic Prevention and Response (In English)))
“The data, unfortunately, is not surprising to me. I think we know from our personal lives, and just from the way human behavior is that people get tired, the virus unfortunately doesn't get tired. And the concern that many of us have is that when we, as a society, start to relax our prevention measures, you can actually prolong the pandemic even further.”
((NARRATOR))
Varma says, the evolution of the virus poses one of the greatest risks.
((Dr.Jay Varma, Cornell Center for Pandemic Prevention and Response (In English)))
“This virus continues to find ways to poke holes in our immunity because we're seeing these new variants that are emerging.”
((NARRATOR))
With the recent surge in cases, New York City has raised its alert level from medium to high.
((Dr.Jay Varma, Cornell Center for Pandemic Prevention and Response (In English) ))
“One of the metrics that I like to track closely is the number of people going to emergency departments in New York City with what we call a COVID, like illness. And then what we've seen is basically since March, the rates of those visits have been going up, not dramatically like they were during December, January.”
((NARRATOR))
The number of U.S. counties considered by the CDC to be at high risk has almost tripled in the last two weeks. But even with a surge in cases, many Americans appear to be leaving COVID safeguards behind.
(Michael Touchard, Le Baratin Restaurant Owner (In English) ))
“People partying like it's pre COVID again. I mean, it's we're back to that we're back to that level.”
((Aron Ranen, for VOA News, New York City))
NewsML Media TopicsHealth
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateMay 18, 2022 18:53 EDT
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
