Many Hudson Valley residents who are immunocompromised — and their families — are closely watching the state’s legal battle over its mask mandate.
They are concerned about changes in mentality among their neighbors and a longer pandemic which, at nearly two years, is weighing on them.
Middletown’s ‘Miracle Handy Man’ Julio Arroyo said in an impromptu interview Tuesday on North Street that even though most of his extended family are vaccinated, some have health conditions that in March 2020 became especially concerning for the whole family.
What You Need To Know
- The American Medical Association said immunocompromised people — even if they are up to date on vaccinations — need be especially careful to avoid contracting COVID-19 since studies have shown the virus can still have a harsh effect on the immunocompromised
- The AMA estimates there are seven million immunocompromised Americans
- “It’s tough to be basically at the house,” Chuck Thomas of Newburgh said Tuesday; he and his wife are still taking the same precautions that they did at the beginning of the pandemic
- He has a spinal injury that has begun to paralyze his lower body and lowered his immunity
Arroyo said if a state mandate to wear masks in indoor public places were to be overturned, the change would further endanger his loved ones.
“A lot of people in my family are immunocompromised, and it is very, very dangerous for them,” he said.
The American Medical Association (AMA) said immunocompromised people, even if they are up to date on vaccinations, need be especially careful to avoid contracting COVID-19 since studies have shown the virus can still have a harsh effect on the immunocompromised.
The AMA estimates there are seven million immunocompromised Americans.
“It’s tough to be basically at the house,” Chuck Thomas of Newburgh said Tuesday.
He and his wife are still taking the same precautions now that they did at the beginning of the pandemic. Thomas has a spinal injury that has begun to paralyze his lower body and lowered his immunity.
A retired archaeologist and Newburgh Free Library director, he is generally quite active, which makes this time especially challenging.
Thomas serves on multiple citizen-led community boards and enjoys visiting restaurants with his wife. If he goes out nowadays, he is limited as to what he can do.
“It’s a bit depressing because we like to socialize,” Thomas, 69, said of him and his wife Nancy. “We like to visit people. We like to go to our meetings. We like to go out and see things. I haven’t seen a movie in forever.”
Both Thomas and Arroyo said Tuesday they hope schools, government buildings and businesses keep their own mask rules in place, even if the state were to lose its appeal.