He joined The Times in 2017 and previously wrote about housing for the Metro desk. . Masks will no longer be required on @NJTRANSIT & by South Jersey Transportation Authority. New York Mask Mandate Expires, But Not in Schools This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. But state-regulated facilities that house a large group of vulnerable populations, such as nursing homes and child care centers, will keep mask mandates. "This variant moves fast. NBC New York's Erica Byfield reports. Individuals may wear a mask based on personal preference, informed by personal level of risk. Our experts have researched the best ways to stay cool without spending a fortune. Lucian Kins has been fired from his jobas the executive officer of a warship because herefused to get aCOVID-19 vaccineand refused to be tested for the coronavirus. 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Themeasure will remain in placeuntil Jan. 15,after which the state will re-evaluate. COVID hospitalizations are up nearly 60% in the last month statewide,though health department data shows more than half of New York COVID patients who were hospitalized were admitted for reasons other than the respiratory virus. Hochul had previously said she would like to see vaccination rates for children improve before she does away with the schools mandate, which has been in place since August. The state added 33,811 new cases in the week ending Sunday, down from the previous week's tally of 54,466 new cases of the virus that causes COVID-19. She also said the CDC failed to justify its recommendation to extend the rule and lacked proper rulemaking in its process. He has delegated all responsibilities to Deputy President David Mabuza for the next week. The state plans to look at the positivity rate in the schools and within the state, including hospital admissions. Hochul did not. That dictates what we're doing.". In New York, the lifting of the mandate on businesses would have far-reaching effects on many public settings, including retail shops, restaurants and malls as well as workplaces a boon for companies struggling to attract workers back to their offices. This is a moment for us to say that this phase of the pandemic, where you as a vaccinated person need to be scared all the time, is over and it is time to live again, he said. More guidance for those businesses is expected from City Hall later this week. "And I will always be grateful for them for being the reason these numbers have been declining.". The statewide mandate will end, but cities and counties can keep their own mask mandates in place, Gov. Mask use is linked to a roughly 70% reduced risk of COVID infection, the state says -- and the governor insists now is the time to start maximizing tools to reduce risk. "We saw it coming, it happened, we hit our peak on January 7, but now we've noticed a 93% drop in cases," Hochul said. @AsteadWesley, A version of this article appears in print on, Dropping Indoor Mask Mandate, New York Joins Blue States Easing Covid Rules, https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/08/us/politics/new-york-mask-mandate.html. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, who currently requires proof of vaccination for anyone older than 12 going indoors at restaurants and entertainment and fitness venues, applauded Hochul's step last week. Hochul declined to lift the state's school mask requirement, citing the vaccination rate among 5-to 11-year-olds. News 4's Linda Gaudino reports. Mizelle argued the only remedy was to vacate the rule entirely because it'd be impossible to end it for the limited group who objected in the lawsuit. Later this month, on Dec. 27, de Blasio's strictest-in-the-nation vaccine mandate takes effect. Those fears haven't entirely vanished. We're not. Trader Joes once offered delivery. USA TODAY 0:00 1:05 Masks will be required starting Monday in all indoor public places across New York unless businesses or venues implement a vaccine requirement for entry. COVID-19 | Department of Health Bugs swarm NYC streets already grappling with haze from Canadian wildfires, Suspect in deadly NYC fire still living in building, accused of racially harassing Black neighbors, 4-year-old reported missing after mom handed her off to woman has been found: NYPD, Alligator sneaks into Louisiana couple's home through doggy door, Video shows touching moment lab chimp sees the sky for the first time in 28 years, Gov. The MTA, which oversees the New York City subway and bus system, as well as Metro-North and Long Island Rail Road, said that mask requirements will continue to be enforced. playoff game on Jan. 30. Kathy Hochul lifted a statewide mask mandate Wednesday amid a battle over the rules legality and as a surge in Covid-19 infections continues to recede. and doubled down on his own expansion of vaccine requirements for kids aged 5 to 11 that takes effect Tuesday. The NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission, the city agency responsible for licensing and regulating New York City's Medallion (yellow) taxi cabs, for-hire vehicles (community-based liveries, black cars and luxury limousines), commuter vans, and paratransit vehicles, announced Tuesday that masks are still required in all of their vehicles. Kathy Hochul announced Friday. >> See how your community has fared with recent coronavirus cases. NY Home to Most of America's COVID High' Risk Counties, CDC Says, Where You Still Need to Wear Covid Face Masks and Where You Don't Anymore, COVID hospitalizations are up nearly 60% in the last month, majority of Americans continue to support a mask requirement. 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Updated on: February 9, 2022 / 6:55 PM Kathy Hochul will drop New Yorks stringent indoor mask mandate on Wednesday, ending a requirement that businesses ask customers for proof of full vaccination or require mask wearing at all times, and marking a turning point in the states coronavirus response, according to three people briefed on her decision. The omicron surge peaked in New York last month, when a weekly average of people testing positive for the disease topped 22 percent. Andrew Siff reports. "We encourage all New Yorkers to continue to wear high-quality masks when indoors or in crowded spaces and to get vaccinated and boosted to stop the spread.". With infection numbers. In New York, 65 people were reported dead of COVID-19 in the week ending Sunday. The administrations guidance didnt come quickly enough for Mr. Murphy, however. Any changes to this policy will be announced via the app, our website and social media channels. IE 11 is not supported. So, to everyone who had to enforce these rules you did the right thing., The latest numbers show that more than 5,800 people are still in hospitals across the state being treated for serious illness related to COVID-19. Virus admissions are up 92% in the last month alone, and daily deaths topped 60 Sunday for the first time in well more than half a year but dropped to the mid-40s Monday. In the meantime, here's where tri-state public transit agencies stand now: The Port Authority said it would follow the guidelines of local authorities -- which means as of now, masks are required at JFK, LaGuardia and Stewart airports, but NOT required at Newark Liberty or Teterboro. Law experts explain this case has been expedited especially since the lower court decision came down less than a week ago. COVID Reinfection Rate in NY County Hit Hard by Contagious Subvariant Is Nearly 3x Average, Hotspot Again? New York enacted a mask mandate early in the pandemic that ended in June 2021 for vaccinated individuals. The country saw its first identified case of the newest "variant of concern" Dec. 1. NEW YORK (WABC) -- Governor Kathy Hochul announced the end of the indoor mask mandate in New York State effective Thursday, but city and school mandates will remain in place. The CDC said last week that of the 40-plus U.S. people who have been found to be infected with omicron so far, more than 75% of them were vaccinated. Kathy Hochul said. Kathy Hochul was expected to drop New Yorks indoor mask mandate on Wednesday. Incoming Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman has indicated he's not on board either. In New York, tracking the rise in COVID-19 cases has also been complicated by the widespread use of at-home tests. New York Gov. NY Waterway operates 2 Hudson Valley lines under contract with the MTA, which are subject to the MTA's rules. We are all in this together and if others will follow suit, these measures will no longer be necessary.". Some Democratic states are lifting pandemic-related mandates now that millions of Americans are vaccinated. Other big city venues suggested a less stringent approach. Covid isn't over, but even the most cautious Americans are moving on playoff game. COVID vaccine second booster: Here's who can get the 4th shot. We're not surrendering. Feb 10, 2022, 2:26amUpdated on Feb 10, 2022 By: Associated Press / Gov. Beginning Tuesday, children ages 5 to 11 will be required to have proof of vaccination for most indoor activities in the city. A new, sensible plan for fall covid boosters is taking shape. "I think people do feel better to know they're protected when they're sitting in close proximity on a bus or train.". When those at-home results are included, Central New Yorks seven-day average case rate is47.7per 100,000 residents. Governor Hochul Announces Winter Toolkit for New Phase of COVID Many other counties across the Hudson Valley, Finger Lakes, Mohawk Valley and Southern Tier also faced major spikes in COVID-19 cases last week, ranging from 30% to nearly 70% surges. Copyright 2023 WABC-TV. Roughly 67,700 people have died because of COVID-19 in New York since spring 2020, according to the latest federal data. Hochul says her mandate was spurred in part by soaring COVID rates in areas with low vaccination rates. Kathy Hochul said Sunday. Gov. All Rights Reserved. What does the road from pandemic to endemic look like, and how do we keep score? Mr. Murphy, the associations vice chairman, later told reporters, describing the discussion. Driving these decisions are the growing numbers of voters signaling that they are prepared to live with the virus as it is now, and political calculations about looming midterm elections that already have Democrats on the defensive. Masks recommended in 5 New York counties as COVID surges NBC New York's Ida Siegal reports. 2:20 Health officials have renewed calls for indoor mask wearing in the Central New York region as COVID-19 cases surged 17% last week and parts of upstate faced some of the worst BA.2. Lisa Lerer is a national political correspondent, covering campaigns, elections and political power. On Monday, America passed another grim milestone -- 800,000 COVID deaths in less than two years. The Democrat feels communities that haven't followed COVID protocols before likely won't now either. NYC's Department of Education has also established mask requirements in its plan for the current school year that remain in effect. "We are continuing to follow the science and the guidance of public health professionals to keep New Yorkers safe," said Fabien Levy, a spokesman for Mayor Eric Adams. Philip D. Murphy of New Jersey who began the effort last fall, weeks after he was stunned by the energy of right-wing voters in his blue state, who nearly ousted him from office in what was widely expected to be an easy re-election campaign. No actions could be taken until the virus eased its grip, the officials acknowledged. Nearly 95% of the municipal workforce is at least partially vaccinated, while 90% of NYC adults have at least one dose. For the last two months, customers and workers have been required to cover their faces or show proof of COVID-19 vaccination in most indoor settings. In the week before that, 112 people were reported dead. On Monday, he acted without White House support by announcing that New Jersey would no longer require students and school employees to wear masks, in defiance of the current recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Republicans excoriated Gov. In her 59-page ruling issued Monday, Mizelle in Tampa, an appointee of former President Donald Trump, said the mandate extension exceeded the authority of the federal agencies that implemented it. New York's indoor mask mandate will remain in effect for now after an appeals court judge on Tuesday blocked a lower-court ruling from a day before that had abruptly struck down the policy.