Amid Omicron Wave, Some Democrats Change Tune On Mandates And Lockdowns

Democratic solidarity on COVID-19 policy is beginning to break.

President Joe Biden laid out his administration’s response to the Omicron variant last week as new cases surge in many parts of the country and some Americans panic about an uncertain future. But unlike during previous waves, more and more Democrats are saying no to new lockdowns and mandates to stop the spread.

New York has been one of the most restrictive states in the country at various points in the pandemic, but Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul appears to be drawing a line at school closures.

“We are keeping our schools open, let me repeat that, we are keeping our schools open,” Hochul said Monday. “Because we are dealing with a very different variant at this time, we believe that it is critically important that our children not end up in the same situation they were for so many months when they were so displaced from their normal environment … we are in a different environment, different circumstance.”

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio similarly promised no new shutdowns of schools or businesses Dec. 21. While Hochul has implemented a mask-or-vaccinate mandate at indoor spaces statewide, some local Democratic officials have said they won’t enforce it.