New York lifts mask requirement and eases lockdown restrictions

When the highly contagious strain of the omicron coronavirus caused a sudden spike in COVID-19 cases in mid-December, New York Gov. Kathy Hokul took aggressive action to try and stop its rapid spread. She introduced mask mandate and vaccination requirement. But now these measures will be weakened, reports New York Times.

Hokul will announce the termination of the mandate

Hokul is expected to announce on Feb. 9 that the mandate for masks will expire this week. This is a watershed moment in the state's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The omicron strain, now known to cause milder symptoms in many cases than originally thought, continues to recede.

Officials said Hokul based her decision on the latest data and consultations with public health experts, including Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, chief medical adviser to President Joe Biden, as well as talks with hospital leaders, labor unions and local authorities.

By February 8, the governor had sorted out the latest data, which showed that the number of free beds in hospitals had increased. And the statewide positivity rate was about 4 percent, up from a peak of 23 percent on Jan. 2.

The repeal of the mandate will have far-reaching implications for many public spaces across the state. It will include businesses such as retail stores, restaurants and malls, as well as jobs. Now no one will be required to force visitors to wear masks or ask for confirmation vaccinations.

This change could be a boon for companies trying to bring employees back to their offices. The omicron surge has derailed many plans for people to return to offices during the winter, leaving many parts of Manhattan's commercial centers empty for the past few months.

A separate mandate to wear masks in NYC schools is still in effect until at least February 21st. On Monday, Hokul said she hoped to eventually relax the rules for wearing masks in schools. But the state needs more time to scrutinize public health indicators.

Masks will still be required on public transport.

Certain local, federal and other requirements regarding the wearing of masks in certain settings will also not be affected, meaning masks will continue to be required on trains, planes and buses, as well as in healthcare facilities such as hospitals and nursing homes.

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In New York City, for example, proof of vaccination is required to dine indoors, attend indoor events, work out in gyms, and go to the movies.

Fabien Levy, a spokesman for New York City Mayor Eric Adams, said the administration would not comment on any policy changes until Hokul made a formal announcement about the mask mandate.

Officials in Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania have announced that they will lift mask requirements for students and school workers in the coming weeks. They highlighted the officials' deliberate move to start treating the virus as part of daily life, almost two years after the pandemic began.