two photos of MTA advertising side by side. The photo on the left is a Yellow MTA sign with people wearing masks, wearing masks incorrectly, or wearing no mask at all. Text reads: Masks are encouraged, but optional. Under someone wearing a mask incorrectly, text reads: You do you. On the right is from @nycHealthy Flu, COVID-19 and RSV are all currently spreading in NYC. Wearing a mask in public indoor spaces and crowded places can help protect you and also protect others if you’re sick. High-quality masks, such as N95s, KN95s and KF94s provide the best protection [picture of snowman wearing an N95 mask with text saying "mask up"]
MTA mask signage
by

In One Year, New York City’s Messaging Went from “You do You” to “Mask up with an N95.”

Twitter (X) post with two embedded graphics (enlarged captures with alt text below). Caption by Dr. Luck Tran reads, "In one year, New York City’s messaging went from “you do you” to “mask up with an N95.” This didn’t happen by chance. Advocates & groups like @COVIDAdvocacyNY organized to take down the MTA signs & attended every NYC hearing on COVID to push for better messaging. Advocacy works!"

Dr. Lucky Tran, a public health and climate justice advocate and science communicator, took to X to compare mask signage created by the Metropolitan Transit Authority. On the left is a sign from September 2022 that implies that any way travelers wear a mask is ok even if that’s incorrect. On the right is a post from @nycHealthy that emphasizes the ways masks are for the public good by protecting the wearer and the people around them. Dr. Tran promotes the work of @COVIDAdvocacyNY, a group dedicated to attending NYC COVID-19 hearings and asking for better signage. Covid Advocacy NY, formerly “Mandate Masks NY” is an “advocacy group led by concerned New Yorkers to get NYC & NY to provide free masks, mandate masks when needed, & save lives from Covid.”

COVID-19 has faded to the back of people’s minds as it has been less prominent in news headlines. This has led to companies relaxing all of their mask policies. Disabled activists and groups like COVID Advocacy work to remind the public that COVID is still ever present, especially in winter 2023 as the JN1 variant spiked in NYC (alt link). As Dr. Tran pointed out, their advocacy succeeded!

— Stephanie Farmer

Backup Media:

Format: Twitter (X) Post
Creator: Dr. Lucky Tran
Handle: @luckytran
Link to Post: https://x.com/luckytran/status/1737201157045424363
Creation Date: 19-Dec-2023

Post Content:

In one year, New York City’s messaging went from “you do you” to “mask up with an N95.”

This didn’t happen by chance. Advocates & groups like @COVIDAdvocacyNY organized to take down the MTA signs & attended every NYC hearing on COVID to push for better messaging. Advocacy works!

ALT Text Image 1: Yellow MTA sign with people wearing masks, wearing masks incorrectly, or wearing no mask at all. Text reads: Masks are encouraged, but optional. Under someone wearing a mask incorrectly, text reads: You do you

ALT Text Image 2: @nycHealthy Flu, COVID-19 and RSV are all currently spreading in NYC. Wearing a mask in public indoor spaces and crowded places can help protect you and also protect others if you’re sick. High-quality masks, such as N95s, KN95s and KF94s provide the best protection [picture of snowman wearing an N95 mask with text saying “mask up”]


Captured: 4-Jul-2024

Twitter (X) post with two embedded graphics (enlarged captures with alt text below). Caption by Dr. Luck Tran reads, "In one year, New York City’s messaging went from “you do you” to “mask up with an N95.” This didn’t happen by chance. Advocates & groups like @COVIDAdvocacyNY organized to take down the MTA signs & attended every NYC hearing on COVID to push for better messaging. Advocacy works!"

Twitter (X) post with yellow MTA sign with people wearing masks, wearing masks incorrectly, or wearing no mask at all. Text reads: Masks are encouraged, but optional. Under someone wearing a mask incorrectly, text reads: You do you. Caption by Dr. Luck Tran reads, "In one year, New York City’s messaging went from “you do you” to “mask up with an N95.” This didn’t happen by chance. Advocates & groups like @COVIDAdvocacyNY organized to take down the MTA signs & attended every NYC hearing on COVID to push for better messaging. Advocacy works!"

Twitter (X) post with a screenshot of a December 18th 2023 post by @nycHealthy stating "Flu, COVID-19 and RSV are all currently spreading in NYC. Wearing a mask in public indoor spaces and crowded places can help protect you and also protect others if you’re sick. High-quality masks, such as N95s, KN95s and KF94s provide the best protection" below is a picture of snowman wearing an N95 mask with text saying “mask up.” Caption by Dr. Luck Tran reads, "In one year, New York City’s messaging went from “you do you” to “mask up with an N95.” This didn’t happen by chance. Advocates & groups like @COVIDAdvocacyNY organized to take down the MTA signs & attended every NYC hearing on COVID to push for better messaging. Advocacy works!"