De Blasio is stoking anti-Semitism. He's not alone.

[hlthe2b]

20. Lyme disease was named after Lyme, Connecticut. As an arbovirus it is & all are traditionally named

after the location of identification. Other viruses not necessarily. In fact, the Southwest identified original hantavirus was named Muerto Canyon virus after the local geographic landmark, though this was a zoonotic but not arbovirus (i.e., not arthropod vector-borne). That Muerto means death in Spanish and the area was home to a very large Navajo population for which "death" is a cultural taboo to discuss, the virus was renamed, ironically, Sin Nombre Virus, so as not to offend. (Sin Nombre means "No Name" virus).

So, when you talk to me about cultural offense versus the issues of public health and safety, I'd agree that respect is important. However, viruses don't care if you are Jewish, Hispanic, female, male, Chinese, or Martian.

Close clustering without any steps to ameliorate via proper use of masks and at least some distancing is a genuine public health issue. Our elected and public health officials have a duty to address.