New York City imposes $1,000 fine for people who don’t wear masks in public

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New York City residents who refuse to wear a mask while in public will be subject to a fine of $1,000.

On Wednesday, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the new fine as the rate of positive COVID-19 tests in the city rose above 3% for the first time in months. The Democrat said that the penalty is being put in place as a means to protect residents of the city from contracting the disease ahead of the flu season.

“We don’t want to fine people, but if we have to, we will,” de Blasio told reporters.

New York state health officials and police will be in charge of enforcing the rule, and de Blasio said that both will be instructed to offer a mask to a person without one before levying a fine against an individual.

The move follows a similar decision by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority that last month unveiled a $50 fine for anyone caught not wearing a mask taking public transportation in the city.

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