Latest Coronavirus: Staff inserted by U.S. automakers can wear masks New York Mayor Bill DeBlasio said officials are “ready” to take action if the Delta variant becomes a major concern in the metropolis, and that he sees no need to tighten the restrictions “for the time being”. DeBlasio wanted to reduce the immediate risks of a major outbreak of the Delta variant in New York, a more transmissible strain of Covid-19 that has been responsible for the rise of new infections in countries like the UK, Australia and India. was first identified. The mayor said city officials were watching the new strain “carefully,” but said “the end result right now is that we are winning the case against the Delta variant” for vaccinations across the city.