No Mask? These Central Queens initiatives have got you covered

COVID-Free Queens! distributed thousands of masks in Forest Hills on Wednesday. Eagle photo by Rachel Vick

By Rachel Vick

There’s really no excuse these days not to wear a mask inside Central Queens’ COVID cluster zone, where community-based organizations, local leaders and city officials are united in a major push to distribute face coverings to every bare-faced resident.

In just three hours Wednesday, community outreach workers from the initiative COVID-Free Queens handed out nearly 9,000 face masks to passersby outside the Ridgewood Savings Bank at the corner of Queens Boulevard and 71st Avenue. Across the busy street, another community group distributed masks. 

“We’re here to remind people of the importance of following protocols of distancing, wearing face coverings and most importantly staying home,” said COVID-Free Queens Project Manager Michael Hernández. “Especially when you can’t maintain distance, even though it might seem perfectly fine to be outside in the open air, just an ounce of prevention goes a long way.”

The mask distribution and public awareness campaign, overseen by the organization Public Health Solutions, is just one component in the effort to drive the COVID rate down in Central Queens amid state-imposed school and business shutdowns.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the tiered restriction plan Oct. 6, a day after Forest Hills’ zip code 11375 recorded a positive COVID test rate of 1.98 percent. The portion of Forest Hills north of Queens Boulevard is included in a red “cluster zone,” where the positive COVID test rate has been 2.81 percent this week. Parts of the adjacent Kew Gardens Hills have seen even higher positive test rates and are also included in the red zone.

The southern portion of Forest Hills is covered by an orange “warning” zone, where schools and most businesses can remain open — unless COVID rates continue to rise

Hernández passed out separate masks to adults and children older than two. The right size covering is important because an ill-fitting mask leaves pockets where particles can enter or escape, he said.

“Our concern is that the fatigue is starting to set in about protocols,” Hernández said. “It’s human nature — the weather gets nice, we want to socialize, we get lax.”

Councilmember Karen Koslowitz doesn’t allow residents of her district to get lax. When she sees someone without a mask, she lets them know they’re making a mistake, she told members of Queens Community Board 6 Wednesday night.

“When I walk through the streets now and see people without masks, I get infuriated, really infuriated,” she said. “I’m expecting someone to hit me. But I don’t care.”

Koslowitz said her staff are handing out masks along Continental Avenue and that anyone who needs a face covering can call her office. 

“This is a very, very serious problem we have right now, which is coronavirus, and we need to get rid of it,” she said. 

Queens Public Library President Dennis Walcott gets a COVID test at the new rapid-testing site inside the Kew Gardens Hills branch. Photo courtesy of QPL

Free COVID-19 testing is available nearby at the Kew Gardens Hills branch of the Queens Public LIbrary, which was converted into a rapid testing site Thursday. The site will offer free tests to visitor every day, from 9 a.m to 7 p.m. until Sunday, Nov. 1.

Kew Gardens Cinemas on Lefferts Boulevard is also hosting free daily testing.

Despite the efforts, some people on Queens Boulevard near the Ridgewood Savings Bank building said they still did not understand why wearing a mask was important. 

When one man questioned the masks, COVID-Free Queens Program Coordinator Ralitsa Kalfas likened masks and social distancing to a block of Swiss cheese. Each individual slice is full of holes, but once they are layered there are no more gaps, she said.

“Face coverings aren’t 100 percent, distancing isn't 100 percent and being vigilant isn’t 100 percent, but you put it together and you have the best protection possible,” Kalfas said. “He said ‘great answer.’ “Hopefully I’ve convinced him.”