Officials warned city dwellers Wednesday evening to continue to stay indoors as they stressed that the hazardous air quality that’s descended upon NYC would remain unpredictable through at least the end of the week.
Air pollution was so poor that it nearly topped the entire air quality scale at 484 — resulting in the worst air quality in the city since the 1960s, Mayor Adams said at the evening briefing.
Adams did not anticipate any disruptions in NYPD, FDNY or Department of Sanitation services as the city grapples with the horrible conditions.
“The city must still must function … those essential services still must operate,” he said. “We are expecting those essential services to continue.”
Adams said conditions would improve after 9 p.m. Wednesday and clear up a bit overnight before getting worse again through Thursday afternoon. Adams and Office of Emergency Management Commissioner Zachary Iscol stressed it can be hard to forecast air quality.
“I know times like these can be scary, it can be shocking for many New Yorkers when you step outside, when you smell and breathe this air,” Iscol said.
Gov. Hochul is shipping 400,000 masks to NYC, and Adams said that the city has masks in its reserves as well and that a distribution program is set to get underway.
Public school students are off Thursday, and teachers scheduled for training will do so remotely, Schools Chancellor David Banks said. The city will decide tomorrow if school is called off Friday.
“This is extremely dangerous air outside,” NYC Health Commissioner Ashwin Vasan said, adding that there has yet to be an influx of ER visits due to the conditions.
He advised pet owners to only take their dogs outside for quick bathroom breaks.
“Unless you have a carpet cleaning bill you can afford,” he quipped.
