Rockland County, NY officials have made the drastic decision to ban children under the age of 18 from public places. 

Rebounding from Israel, the measles virus, which was declared eliminated in 2000, invaded Rockland County, New York. Infecting more than 150 people. Since its arrival, more than 17,000 people have gotten measles, mumps, and rubella vaccinations. Rockland County’s executive Ed Day said that only 72.9 percent of people under 18 have been vaccinated against measles in the county out of 300,000.  

“There will not be law enforcement or deputy sheriffs asking for vaccination records. That is ridiculous,” said Day. “However, parents will be held accountable if they’re found to be in violation of this emergency declaration.” 

Then we have Michael Sussman, a civil rights attorney who represents the parents of the unvaccinated children. He believes the ban is “irrational,” and that it punishes “people who don’t have the illness rather than quarantining people who are sick.” Sussman believes quarantining measles patients and those alongside them would efficiently prevent the spread.  

CDC has said that at least 15 states have a minimum of one case of measles confirmed in 2019, with 314 to date. In 2014 alone, 667 cases were confirmed throughout the country.