Masks are making a comeback on the subway. It comes as the health care system is inundated with a trifecta of COVID, RSV and flu cases.

State Health Commissioner Mary Bassett said the decision to wear a mask is an individual choice.

What You Need To Know

  • With COVID, RSV and flu cases on the rise, some are choosing to mask up while traveling on the MTA

  • Gov. Kathy Hochul dropped mask mandates on the MTA in September

  • Dr. Amesh Adalja, from Johns Hopkins, says if you’re worried about getting sick on the subway, wear a mask, but you have a higher chance of getting sick from home or at work

People choosing to wear masks, like Shelia Crawford from Brooklyn, say they continue to wear a mask, despite there not being a mandate, to give themselves an added protection.

Crawford was infected with COVID in March 2021 and says that’s something she doesn’t want to experience again.

“I didn’t think I was going to make it. They’re going to find me dead here on this floor in my apartment. And that was the end of that. I had such an excruciating headache. I just didn’t know what to do,” Crawford said.

Dr. Amesh Adalja from Johns Hopkins says if a person is worried about getting sick on the subway, wear a mask, but you have a higher chance of catching one the the viruses at home or at work.

"I think it's hard to actually pinpoint where people are getting infected when they have so much social interactions in many different venues,” Adalja said.

Still, the doctor says one-way masking works for people who are at higher risk for severe COVID or are trying to limit their exposure.

“Whether that's in transportation, whether that's at stores, whether that's at home, whether that's socially. But I've not seen any data to show that the subway was a major driver of infections. It likely was people's everyday contact with their family and close friends that was the driver, versus the subway," Adalja said.

Crawford respects the choice of others to not wear a mask, but as COVID infections are once again on the rise, and flu and RSV are contributing to an overburdened health care system, she says the mask gives her comfort that she’s traveling with a little added protection.