Monkeypox emergency declared in New York City

NEW YORK (WHEC) – The New York City Health Department has declared a public health emergency due to the monkeypox outbreak.

New York has recorded the most cases of the virus nationwide, with 1,345 confirmed cases. One in four cases of the virus is in New York state.

The declaration allows the city health department to issue emergency commissioner’s orders. It also amends health code provisions "to provide for measures to help slow the spread," the mayor’s office said in a statement.