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New York’s Indoor Business Mask or Vaccine
Requirement to be Lifted Starting February 10; Masks Still Required in
Schools and Other Settings
Published: February 09, 2022
at 02:15 p.m.
By: Press Release from Governor Hochul’s
Office
Governor Hochul Announces
Winter Toolkit for New Phase of COVID Response: Keep New York Safe, Open
and Moving Forward
Statewide Indoor
Business Mask or Vaccine Requirement to be Lifted Starting February 10,
Remains Optional for Businesses, Local Governments, Counties
Masks Will Still
Be Required In Hospitals, Nursing Homes, Shelters,
Transportation and Other Related Entities
Requirements Related
To Masks in Schools Continue and Will Be
Reevaluated in Early March, After Mid-Winter Break, Based on Public Health
Data
Health Care,
Business and Labor Leaders Praise Governor Hochul's Scientific,
Evidence-Based COVID-19 Response
View
Governor Hochul's Presentation Here
Governor
Kathy Hochul today announced New York's
new Winter
Toolkit for the new phase of the pandemic, aiming to keep New York
safe, open and moving forward. The Winter Toolkit focuses on five core
areas: protecting the most vulnerable New Yorkers, increasing
vaccinations and boosters, strengthening our health care system, empowering
local leaders, and supporting individuals facing the long-term effects of
COVID.
"As we begin
a new phase in our response to this pandemic, my top priority is making
sure we keep New York safe, open and moving
forward," Governor Hochul said. "I
want to thank the health care workers, business owners and everyday New
Yorkers who acted responsibly during the Omicron surge by masking up and
getting vaccinated. But make no mistake: while we're moving in the right
direction, this pandemic isn't over and our new
Winter Toolkit shows us the path forward."
Governor Hochul announced that the statewide indoor
business mask-or-vaccine requirement will be lifted starting Thursday, February, 10, and will remain optional for businesses,
local governments and counties to enforce. This protocol, a temporary
measure implemented on December 10 as statewide cases spiked, was an
effective tool to address the winter surge and the rise of the Omicron
variant. With case counts plummeting and hospitalizations sharply
declining, this temporary measure is no longer needed statewide. Counties,
cities, and businesses will be able to opt into the mask-or-vaccine
requirement if they so choose.
Masks remain a
critical tool to fight the spread of COVID-19, and mask requirements will
remain in place in certain high-density settings. All health care settings
regulated by the Department of Health and other related state agencies will
continue to require masks. Masks will also be required in nursing homes,
adult care facilities, correctional facilities,
detention centers, homeless shelters, and domestic violence shelters,
public transit and transportation hubs, as well as trains, planes and
airports in accordance with federal regulations.
Governor Hochul also announced plans to assess the mask
requirement in schools in early March, to ensure students can continue
learning in-person and in the classroom. The assessment will be based on
public health data, including key metrics like cases per 100,000
residents, hospital admission rates, vaccination rates, global trends and pediatric hospitalizations. Plans are already
underway to distribute two tests for every K-12 student ahead of midwinter break, and continue distribution the following week when
students return to school. In the meantime, Governor Hochul has directed the Department of Health to
work on preliminary guidance, with input from educators and parents, to
keep students and teachers safe.
With a new phase
of the pandemic beginning, Governor Hochul unveiled
a new Winter Toolkit to help keep New Yorkers safe. The toolkit includes
efforts to:
1. Protect the most
vulnerable
2. Increase access
to vaccines, boosters and testing
3. Strengthen the
health system
4. Empower local
leaders
5. Support New
Yorkers facing long-term COVID effects
Protecting the
Most Vulnerable
New York State
will continue to acquire and distribute masks and tests to New Yorkers to
ensure those who need them can access them. The state's test stockpile
contains 92 million tests. Over 14.2 million tests have been distributed to
schools and tests will continue to be distributed as needed. 4.2 tests have
been distributed to nursing homes, 2.4 million tests to adult
care/congregate facilities, and 4 million tests to counties.
1.28
million masks have been distributed to nursing homes and 5.5
million masks have been distributed to counties.
Visitation rules
in nursing homes will remain in place. Visitors must show proof of a
negative test within 24 hours of their visit and masks will remain
required.
Tests will be
made widely available for students so that K-12
student can go home for their Midwinter Break with two tests.
Increase Access
to Vaccines, Boosters and Testing
- New York State's mass vaccination and testing
sites will remain open to ensure all eligible New Yorkers can access
first, second, and third doses for themselves and their children.
- The State's #VaxForKids pop-up
programming continues to expand with 63 new sites established today
and 193 sites established to date. This effort brings the vaccine
directly to parents, guardians, and their children at local schools,
community centers, and destinations like farmer's markets to make
getting vaccinated convenient and accessible for families.
- New York State is actively preparing for the
Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to come online for children under 5 years
old.
- The State's robust education efforts to reach
New Yorkers with good, science-based information about the vaccine is
on-going including through traditional
advertising, digital and multimedia campaigns, and direct
messaging efforts through SMS text messaging, robo-calling,
and Excelsior Pass push notifications.
- All 61 state-operated and
state-partnered testing
sites will remain open to provide New Yorkers with access to
COVID-19 testing.
- Testing also remains widely available at
over 1,800
sites statewide in every region of the State.
Strengthen the
Healthcare System
To troubleshoot
shortage issues, Executive
Order 4 to increase staffing flexibility will remain in place.
National Guard will continue to
be trained to be able to staff in places needed as well.
As part of the
Governor's Winter
Surge Plan 2.0, the State has already deployed 20-member Medical
Specialty Teams from the U.S. military hospital support team to Erie County
Medical Center, a 35-member team to SUNY Upstate in Syracuse, 92 new ambulance
teams to different regions in the state, including 50 to NYC, and two
Medical Specialty Teams (MSTs) of 20 personnel from the Department of
Defense to Strong
Memorial Hospital.
Governor Hochul also outlined investments to strengthen the
health care system in her 2022 State of the State Address and FY 2023
Budget. $10 billion will be invested to grow the health care workforce by
twenty percent in five years. $4 billion will be invested in wages and
bonuses to stop the hemorrhaging of health care staff. $1.6 billion will be
invested via the Capital Plan.
Empower Local
Leaders
Governor Hochul's announcement today comes after
consultation with local leaders on steps the state is taking to fight
COVID-19.
Support New
Yorkers Facing Long-Term COVID Effects
- Last Thursday, the State's Department of
Health hosted an expert
forum on Long COVID and over 2,000 individuals registered to
view the panels. Panelists included specialists, clinicians, social
scientists, patients and advocates who shared
their experience, expertise, and insights.
- This discussion, as well as continued focus
and study by the Department, will inform the State's response which
will span policy, regulatory, and program considerations to support
New Yorkers suffering from long COVID as well as the healthcare
providers who care for them.
State Health
Commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett said, "At every stage of the
pandemic, and since Omicron emerged, the Department of Health has monitored
the science to inform the State's data-driven COVID-19 response. Today, we
have reached a critical point in our fight in which the proof of
vaccination or masking requirement for businesses, restaurants and other
indoor public spaces will expire. As the winter surge recedes, getting
vaccinated and boosted remains critical to continue the progress we've
made, and masking remains key to keeping children in schools safely and
keeping everyone safe in public transit and other crowded settings. As we continue
to assess the data, the Department is also focused on ensuring the
necessary support is there for those suffering from long COVID."
Business Council
of New York State President & CEO Heather Briccetti said, "As
protecting public health remains our top concern, we also appreciate
the Governor's efforts to assure that state policies reflect ever-changing
COVID levels. Throughout the pandemic, employers have taken the
necessary safety precautions and followed state and federal guidelines to
ensure the safety of their employees and customers. We hope new policies
will encourage New Yorkers to continue to support New York businesses still
recovering from the pandemic."
New York State
Association of Counties President Martha Sauerbrey said, "We applaud
Governor Kathy Hochul's decision to
lift the statewide mask mandate and allow for local decision-making
regarding COVID-19 prevention measures. Local leaders and health officials
have the training and public health expertise to ensure the health and
safety of the public at large. Any step toward normalcy is a good step
for our residents and businesses who have struggled so hard to protect one
another for nearly two years. We acknowledge Governor Hochul's public health measures, including
testing, vaccinations and emergency management
assistance, during this pandemic and appreciate the steps she took to
address this wave without implementing other business restrictions. Now we
welcome the opportunity to return communicable disease control to the
counties."
Partnership for
New York City President & CEO Kathryn Wylde said, "Governor Hochul's decision to allow expiration of mask
mandates in the workplace will encourage the return of employees to the
office and accelerate the city's economic recovery. It is the right
call."
Building and
Construction Trades Council of Greater New York President Gary LaBarbera
said, "The mask mandate has helped keep New York's working men and
women safe and healthy during the most uncertain and volatile moments of
the public health crisis. The easing of indoor mask mandates for businesses
is a positive sign in New York's recovery, as it's a direct result of
COVID-19 cases dropping across the state and, hopefully, the pandemic
itself receding. We're grateful to Governor Hochul for
her thoughtful and steady leadership in navigating New York through these
uncertain times."
New York State
AFL-CIO President Mario Cilento said, "In
light of the announcement today, we thank the governor for ensuring
employers still have responsibilities under state statute, including the
Public Employee Safety and Health Act and the New York HERO Act, which
remain in effect. These laws establish safety protocols to protect workers
and the public. Moving forward, in the absence of the mask mandate,
employers must continue to work with their employees to make sure
appropriate protections are in place."
New York State
Restaurant Association President & CEO Melissa Fleischut said, "As
protecting public health remains our top concern, we also appreciate
the Governor's efforts to assure that state policies reflect ever-changing
COVID levels. Throughout the pandemic, employers have taken the
necessary safety precautions and followed state and federal guidelines to
ensure the safety of their employees and customers. We hope new policies
will encourage New Yorkers to continue to support New York businesses still
recovering from the pandemic."
Retail Council of
New York State President & CEO Melissa O'Connor said, "Governor Hochul over the past several weeks has prioritized
the health and safety of New Yorkers, while recognizing the importance of
keeping the economy open during the COVID-19 'winter surge' in New York.
Today's announcement is a positive development for retailers throughout the
state and we will continue to collaborate with the Governor on economic
recovery efforts."
Greater New York
Hospital Association President Kenneth Raske said, The Greater
New York Hospital Association fully supports Governor Hochul's decision to let the mask mandates expire.
Thankfully, hospitalizations due to COVID have dropped dramatically in
recent weeks and we are optimistic that this trend will continue,
particularly as more and more New Yorkers get vaccinated. Returning to as
much normalcy as possible is exactly what is needed. We thank the
Governor for her outstanding leadership during this extraordinarily
challenging time and, as always, stand ready to assist in any way needed to
combat this pandemic.
President &
CEO of Northwell Health Mike Dowling said, "I
support the Governor's decision. It is reasonable and data driven. It is
now time to begin the pivot to a more normal way of living".
Erie County
Medical Center President & CEO Thomas J. Quatroche Jr.,
PhD said, "Governor Hochul clearly
understood that the restaurant industry could not survive another shutdown,
and the mask mandate helped ensure that we could remain open for indoor
dining even as cases surged. Now as the metrics continue to trend in the
right direction and consumer confidence increases, we remain hopeful that
better times are ahead and we can continue our
recovery from the darkest days of the pandemic. This measured approach
balances public health concerns with the need to keep our doors
open."
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