Statement from Borough President Vito J. Fossella on the Lifting of Vaccine and Mask Mandates

This long-awaited day of lifting mask and vaccine mandates is music to the ears of so many parents, students, families, and business owners across Staten Island.

We have been saying for months that mask mandates should come to an end and that students in particular have suffered a detrimental consequence in their educational progress and mental health. Today, I had the chance to speak with a class of students at Monsignor Farrell High School on their first week learning in a mask-free environment. I asked how it felt. They answered “amazing.”
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We hope that all kids this coming Monday will feel the same way once the mask mandate ends for public school students. I want to applaud Mayor Eric Adams for taking this next step as we move forward with COVID-19 in the rearview.