Hochul takes on COVID critics, cuts health worker quarantine
New York is shortening the amount of time essential workers must stay home after testing positive for COVID-19, Gov. Kathy Hochul said Friday, seeking to strike a balance between staunching the virus’ rapid spread and keeping critical jobs as fully staffed as possible.
Hochul announced the change during an address in Albany where she also went on a Christmas Eve offensive against her coronavirus critics, insisting that the state acted early and has done everything it could against the rapid spread of the omicron variant.
“We’re going to continue to spread holiday cheer, not COVID,” Hochul said in remarks at the Capitol. “We are going to keep things open. We’re going to do the right things, but we will not get complacent. We are going to get through this battle my friends. We’re smart. We know how to do this. We’re not shutting down business. We’re not shutting down schools.”