New York City Is Rolling Back Pandemic Restrictions. Is It Too Soon?

Mayor Eric Adams plans to end certain mask and vaccine mandates in hopes of restoring a sense of normalcy. Some health experts think he should wait.

The day after announcing that he planned to end New York City’s mask mandate for public schools and a proof-of-vaccination requirement for indoor dining, gyms and entertainment venues, Mayor Eric Adams smiled broadly as he rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange.

His appearance on Wall Street on Monday was part of his campaign to restore a sense of normalcy to a city battered by the coronavirus. The end of the mandates, planned for March 7, is part of his approach.

Mr. Adams decided to roll back the restrictions after meeting with his top health advisers and union leaders and watching the number of virus cases and hospitalizations in the city drop steeply.