New York – Governor Kathy Hochul today announced plans to end the state mask requirement in schools starting on March 2, 2022.
The announcement also follows recent changes in metrics used by the CDC to determine risk and transmission levels in communities.
“With more New Yorkers getting vaccinated, and the steady decline over the past several weeks in cases and hospitalizations from Omicron, we are now entering a new phase of the pandemic. Because New Yorkers have stepped up, we can confidently remove the statewide mask requirement in our schools,” Governor Hochul said. “This is a huge step forward for our kids and communities and I am grateful to the students, educators and parents for their dedication to keeping us all safe—we’ve reached this milestone because of your hard work.”
State Health Commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett said, “Thanks to the hard work of New Yorkers, today we are able to lift the statewide mask requirement for schools. As Governor Hochul said, we will remain vigilant as New York moves forward, and our team at the Department of Health will continue to monitor the data and advance early warning monitoring systems like wastewater surveillance. We continue to urge all New Yorkers to get vaccinated and get boosted, and we will work with our partners in education statewide to ensure our schools, teachers, and students have the support they need to keep our classrooms healthy and safe.”
State Education Commissioner Dr. Betty A. Rosa said, “I thank the Governor for her leadership. Working together we look forward to keeping our schools safe for students and educators.”
BREAKING: NYC Mayor Eric Adams says he's poised to lift COVID-19 vaccine mandates on restaurants, bars, theaters by March 7 – AP
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) February 27, 2022
