County in New York bans unvaccinated minors in public as measles spreads

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — A county in New York City’s northern suburbs declared a state of emergency Tuesday over a measles outbreak that has infected more than 150 people since last fall, hoping a ban against unvaccinated children in public places wakes their parents to the seriousness of the problem.

“It’s an attention grab, there’s no question about it,” Rockland County Executive Ed Day said at a news conference, noting that he didn’t believe such a drastic step has never been tried in the U.S. before.

Day said he was taking the action in hopes of reversing a recent uptick in cases amid disturbing reports that health workers were encountering resistance when investigating cases.

Rockland’s outbreak has most heavily affected Orthodox Jewish communities, in which vaccination rates tend to be lower.

Under the declaration, which lasts for at least 30 days, anyone under 18 who’s unvaccinated is barred from public gathering places including shopping malls, civic centres, schools, restaurants and even houses of worship.

Those in violation could be charged with a misdemeanour punishable by up to six months in jail.

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