Gov. Kathy Hochul Lifts Mask Mandate for NY Businesses, Keeps it for Schools

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that the indoor mask mandate for businesses will be lifted effective Thursday. Masks mandates will remain in effect for schools and cities, counties, and businesses that choose to keep them in place. 

The state had implemented a mask requirement for businesses that decided not to check vaccination status. It had gone into effect on December 10.

We are not where we were in early December. New Yorkers did the right thing to get through the winter surge, and we can now lift the statewide mask-or-vaccine requirement for indoor businesses starting tomorrow.

Counties, cities and businesses can still choose to require masks. pic.twitter.com/jqFhBfRuTh

— Governor Kathy Hochul (@GovKathyHochul) February 9, 2022

“We saw it coming, it happened, we hit our peak on January 7, but now we’ve noticed a 93% drop in cases,” the governor said. “That is exactly what we’ve been waiting for.”

But for school-aged children between five and 11, Hochul says there is “more work to do.” Children will still be required to wear masks while attending school. Only 38.8 percent of kids in that age group have received their first dose of a vaccine. 

I spoke with teachers, superintendents and parent representatives yesterday about keeping schools safe and open.

We’re getting tests out so kids can come back safely from Midwinter break, and I expect to make an assessment on masks based on the data in early March. pic.twitter.com/AX1RY8maeS

— Governor Kathy Hochul (@GovKathyHochul) February 9, 2022

The governor said she would reassess school’s the first week of March after the kids return from a week-long break. Hochul said millions of COVID tests would be handed out so children could test over the mid-winter break and again three days later.

Homeless shelters, state-run nursing homes, correctional facilities, and healthcare centers will still be subject to the mask mandate.

In New York City, proof of vaccination will still be required for restaurants, arenas, gyms, and theaters. 

Hochul has faced mounting pressure to lift the mask mandate in New York after New Jersey and Connecticut announced that orders would be lifted. And unlike in New York, those states lifted the restriction in schools, too.