How would NYC mayoral candidates react to another pandemic?

As New York City commemorates the fifth anniversary of the COVID-19 lockdown and some health experts worry that the bird flu has the potential to spread to humans, all eyes are on the city’s preparations for the next epidemic – and on who might be leading the city through a future health crisis. City & State spoke to experts about what the city should do to prepare for the next epidemic and then asked New York City mayoral candidates what they would do if another infectious disease outbreak struck the city.

Anna Bershteyn, an associate professor at NYU’s Grossman School of Medicine, said that early detection and surveillance for infectious diseases could be key to preventing another epidemic. “If it's contained and not allowed to spread everywhere, then we could avoid very drastic measures like canceling schools or having everybody wear masks or even a lockdown,” she said.

Denis Nash, an epidemiologist and the executive director of the CUNY Institute for Implementation Science in Population Health, said that the city must invest more in community- and hospital-based surveillance to detect potentially dangerous pathogens early on. “Heed the warnings of our surveillance systems and our public health experts in the city,” he said. “Don't sit on them. Don't wait for them.” Nash also pointed to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on essential workers and members of marginalized communities and the city needs to ensure that “strong protections put in place to make sure that their risks are minimized.”

The incumbent mayor and his challengers have their own ideas for how best to address a future health crisis. Here’s how the mayoral contenders say they would address the next pandemic:

Eric Adams

Mayor Eric Adams’ administration is confident that it has learned the lessons of COVID and is ready for the next pandemic. Dr. Michelle Morse, acting commissioner of the city Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, told City & State that the department had learned it “needed to adapt our messages, our vaccination delivery, our outreach” for communities of color, whom she said were targeted with disinformation, and to facilitate better collaboration between intergovernmental agencies. 

A group of city agencies produced a COVID-19 Response Review Report that analyzed flaws with the city’s response to the pandemic, which highlighted poor coordination between the city and state governments in the early stages of the pandemic. A spokesperson for the mayor also told City & State that the Adams administration “conducted rigorous scenario planning exercises” and completed a blueprint for preparedness last year to address any future outbreaks. Morse called the blueprint an “internal planning, strategic document” to “see part of what we learn together and what we are doing internally to make sure we continue to be ready for the next public health emergency.”

Andrew Cuomo

Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo gained national recognition for his authoritative COVID-19 briefings in 2020, and he’s campaigning heavily on his leadership during the pandemic. Cuomo’s campaign did not respond to requests for comment, but the “Health and Wellness” section his campaign website states: “New York City must be more focused than ever on core public health functions – pandemic preparedness, childhood vaccinations, environmental health – in the face of a federal government that is failing to address these challenges.” 

Cuomo has repeatedly defended his handling of the pandemic, and particularly his controversial decision to order nursing homes to accept COVID-19 patients discharged from hospitals, in the face of criticism from House Republicans and rival candidates.

Brad Lander

In a statement, New York City Comptroller Brad Lander acknowledged that the “nation is again led by an administration devastatingly hostile to health and science experts” and said he wants New York City to once again “become the nation’s leading source of health information and research.”

“I will ensure our infrastructure is prepared to take on another outbreak, such as bird flu, and do everything in my power to protect the $600 million in CDC grants to New York City,” he said. “Most importantly, we will make sure all New Yorkers have access to quality, affordable healthcare that meets their needs without breaking the bank.”

Zohran Mamdani

Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani said in a statement that his priority in preventing infectious diseases is to "break the cycle of neglect and invest in disease prevention amongst older New Yorkers” by investing in community hospitals and a multilingual public health education campaign. A key part of his plan is to stop the privatization of community hospitals currently owned by the city. Mamdani also criticized his fellow candidates for the city and state’s response to COVID, mentioning the “devastation in nursing homes that Andrew Cuomo enabled during the pandemic.” 

Scott Stringer

In a statement, former New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer highlighted the importance of equitable vaccine and health care distribution to close the “gaps” in the city’s public health infrastructure that were evident in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. A campaign spokesperson said that, if elected, Stringer would create a public health office for emerging health threats, ensure an adequate supply of personal protective equipment, enhance workplace protections for frontline workers and improve data-sharing protocols to detect outbreaks early.

Zellnor Myrie

In a statement, state Sen. Zellnor Myrie said he would “use lessons learned from (COVID-19) to prevent and better prepare for the next public health crisis.” Myrie said he would employ health experts at the DOHMH and Health+Hospitals to prepare the city for another pandemic and would “communicate to the public to provide clear guidance to avoid any confusion or the perception that these choices are made lightly or without New Yorkers’ best interest in mind.”

Jessica Ramos

“I was in the second year of my first term as state senator when my district, and the hospital where I was born, became the national epicenter of the pandemic,” state Sen. Jessica Ramos said in a statement. Her campaign promises include an expansion of health care infrastructure, including increased funding for public hospitals and medical equipment, and stronger worker protections and occupational health standards. She also called for the creation of a permanent pandemic response team within the Office of Emergency Management and further investments in early warning systems like wastewater testing.

Adrienne Adams

The speaker of the New York City Council wants to prioritize vaccines, which she said “brought us out of COVID and remain our best defense against future pandemics.” In a statement, she said that “city government should proactively encourage all New Yorkers to get vaccines, especially since we can no longer count on the Federal Department of Health to fill that role.” Speaker Adams also wants to supply New Yorkers with access to safe drinking water and equip urban areas with proper ventilation in public places like libraries and parks.

Michael Blake

A political consultant and former Barack Obama aide, Michael Blake said in a statement that he would facilitate “coordinated government collaboration” between local, state and federal government in the event of a future health crisis. He stressed the importance of communication between the government and the public to “break through misinformation when it counters the truth, and remain focused on putting the public’s health first” and added that he would be “strengthening public health infrastructure, ensuring equitable access to testing and vaccines.”

Whitney Tilson

Referencing his past hospital volunteer work during the pandemic, Whitney Tilson said that the COVID pandemic was mismanaged as the city needs to elevate its rapid response and oversight of funds. “The city wasted millions in taxpayer money,” he said in a statement. “As a result, communities of color and working-class neighborhoods suffered the brunt of this crisis.” Tilson also said that he would invest in remote learning to tackle the educational disparities that could occur if schools were locked down again. “During the COVID pandemic, New York students suffered heavy learning losses that were equivalent to missing an entire school year,” he added.

Curtis Sliwa

Curtis Sliwa, the presumptive Republican nominee for mayor, criticized the city’s use of lockdowns and vaccine mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic. He said that in the event of another pandemic, he would want to use “targeted, science-based responses rather than blanket lockdowns,” especially when it comes to schools. His policy also emphasized working with community and religious leaders by making their institutions “pre-designated emergency response hubs” to spread public health information and medical resources to the public. In lieu of “punishing” vaccine mandates for essential workers and first responders, he said, he would “support them with proper protections, fair policies, and a city government that stands with them.” 

Jim Walden

A campaign spokesperson for Walden, who is running as an independent, declined to comment.