Adams says city ‘will not be controlled by crises’ as COVID cases continue to soar

After being sworn in as New York City mayor, Eric Adams assured New Yorkers that the city would not be controlled by crises as it grapples with a continuing surge in COVID-19 infections.

“This will be our New Year’s resolution: We will not be controlled by crises,” Adams said in his inaugural address, according to CBS News.

“This pandemic has not only impacted us physically, but emotionally, and I’m going to really encourage people in this city to just find that inner peace, no matter what we’re going through. We have been through tragedies before. This is a resilient city and a resilient country and I want to bring that energy,” he also said. 

“We are a city of about 9 millions dreams and we are about to wake up. I cannot wait to greet this new day with you,” the new mayor added, noting that “the last two years have trapped our spirit and it is begging to be let out.”

New York City has seen a daily average above 24,000 COVID-19 cases in the past seven days, according to data from the NYC Health Department. 

Across the state, cases have surged with New York reporting a record 162,031 positive tests on Dec. 31.

On Saturday, Adams was sworn in as New York City’s 110th mayor just after the ball dropped in Times Square to celebrate the new year.

The former city police captain took his oath of office using his family’s Bible as he held a photo of his late mother who passed away last spring. The 61-year-old is the city’s second Black mayor.