Eric Adams takes office as New York City mayor on New Year's Eve

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Eric Adams was sworn in as the new mayor of New York City at a ceremony in Times Square shortly after the traditional ball drop marked the start of the New Year 2022.

The 61-year-old Adams, a Democrat, will face the enormous challenge of leading the city out of the pandemic, taking office at a time when New York is facing record numbers of new infections.

As confetti was still falling on Times Square, Adams recited the oath of office. He did not make any statements or answer questions from reporters. Earlier, he took the main stage and spoke about the city's strength.

„Even in the midst of COVID, in the midst of everything we are going through, this is a country where hope and opportunity are always present,“ Adams said earlier in the evening.

“It is extraordinary when New York shows the entire country how we are coming back. We have shown the entire planet what we are made of. We are incredible. This is an incredible city, and believe me, we are ready for a great comeback because this is New York,” Adams said.

He takes over from Mayor Bill de Blasio. He said earlier that he plans to keep many of his predecessor's policies, including vaccination mandates, which are among the strictest in the country.

Vaccination is mandatory for city employees, for dining in restaurants, for shows, gyms, or conferences. New York has also introduced a vaccination mandate for private sector employees. Adams is determined to keep schools open and avoid further lockdowns in the city of 8.8 million residents.

Even without a mandate, the city faces many closures due to the large number of COVID-19 infections among employees.