Statement From 10 Long Island Elected Officials On The Need To Protect Children In Schools From COVID-19

LONG ISLAND, NY (January 7, 2022) - Today, Senator Anna M. Kaplan, Senator Todd Kaminsky, Senator Kevin Thomas, Senator Jim Gaughran, Senator John Brooks, Assemblymember Michaelle Solages, Assemblymember Chuck Lavine​, Assemblymember Judy Griffin, Assemblymember Taylor Darling, Assemblymember Gina Sillitti ;issued the following statement in response to County Executive Bruce Blakeman's press conference yesterday: ​

“Over the past two years 3,435 of our friends, neighbors and loved ones in Nassau County have died from COVID-19. We are grateful Governor Hochul has required the simple precaution of masks in schools to keep our schools open and our kids safe. At this point in the pandemic, when pediatric hospitalizations are spiking at dangerous levels, it would be the height of irresponsibility to ignore Governor Hochul's vital efforts to protect public health. 

We are confident the school districts of Nassau County will continue acting responsibly in the coming days, as they had no input in the County Executive's actions. For the sake of our children, teachers, and school personnel, County Executive Blakeman must immediately rescind his irresponsible and clearly unlawful executive order." ​​​