New York joins other states in lifting mask mandates

Gov. Hochul lifts the indoor mask mandate as the recent spike in COVID cases continues to slow down. On Wednesday, Gov. Hochul announced that businesses are no longer required to ask customers to wear masks indoors or provide proof of full vaccination. 

The mask mandate took effect in December. The measure aimed to address the rising number of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations. However, when the winter surge began to decline, Gov. Hochul decided to eliminate the mask mandate “to keep New York safe, open and moving forward.” 

New Yorkers will still be required to wear a mask on public transit, trains, airplanes, and airports. In addition, mask requirements will remain in specific settings, such as state agencies, shelters, hospitals, and nursing homes. Gov. Hochul's announcement does not affect the school mask mandate that expires on February 21 and has been a topic of heated debates among parents, teachers, and government officials. 

New York joined other Democratic-led states in easing pandemic restrictions. So far, New Jersey, California, Connecticut, Delaware, and Oregon have lifted indoor mask mandates. 

The removal of some pandemic restrictions reflects the overall rush to move further. 

The growing number of Americans indicated that they lost faith in federal COVID safety measures. The recent polls by Monmouth University show that 7 in 10 respondents agree with the sentiment that “it’s time we accept that Covid is here to stay and we just need to get on with our lives."

While the state officials listen to the sentiment of people to lift COVID restrictions, CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky told Reuters that “now it is not the moment” to remove mask mandates in schools and other public places. 

Resources:

“Governor Hochul Announces Winter Toolkit for New Phase of COVID Response: Keep New York Safe, Open and Moving Forward,” by Governor Kathy Hochul (New York State, 2022)

“N.Y. Gov. Kathy Hochul lifts statewide mask mandate at center of legal battle,” by Tim Stelloh (NBC News, 2022)

“Dropping Indoor Mask Mandate, New York Joins Blue States Easing Covid Rules,” by Lisa Lerer, Luis Ferré-Sadurní, and Astead W. Herndon (The New York Times, 2022)

“Time to Accept Covid and Move On?” (Monmouth University Polling Institute, 2022)

“Should we drop all these mask mandates? Here’s what the CDC director says,” by Herb Scribner (Reuters, 2022)

“U.S. CDC stands by K-12 school masking guidance as states relax rules –Walensky,” by  Julie Steenhuysen and Carl O'donnell (Reuters, 2022)

“Governor Hochul Announces Major Action to Address Winter Surge and Prevent Business Disruption as COVID-19 Cases and Hospitalizations Rise Statewide,” by Governor Kathy Hochul (New York State, 2021)