New York's statewide masking requirement in schools will be lifted by March 2, Governor Kathy Hochul said on Sunday, citing a dramatic drop in COVID-19 infections and new federal guidelines.
Hours later, New York City Mayor Eric Adams said he was considering lifting vaccine mandates at restaurants, bars and theaters early next week if the trend of infections and hospitalizations continues.
Adams said in a statement that the mask mandate could also be removed from the city's nearly one million school children. He said a decision would not come until Friday after a full week of classes after students in the country's largest school system returned from a week off.
The pair of announcements signaled a turning point for the city and state, which was once the epicenter of the global pandemic.
"That day has come," Hochul said at a news conference in Albany.
New guidance from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says most Americans can now safely take a break from wearing masks, including students in schools.
"That's why I am very confident that it is time to lift the mask requirements," Hochul said.
As of Saturday, state officials said the 7-day average for new cases was less than 1,671 for the first time since late July. Other metrics, including hospitalizations and deaths, have also fallen sharply.
CDC guidelines for other indoor venues are not binding, meaning cities and institutions can set their own rules, even in low-risk areas. Hochul said counties and cities can keep their own mandates, and parents can still choose to send their children to school in masks.
The new rules also apply to children age 2 and older in childcare facilities.
Hochul said Adams was consulted before his announcement, which included talks on Sunday.
Despite criticism over the state's pandemic measures, Hochul said he was determined to stick to experts and health data as his guide and "not let criticism and politics interfere with this decision-making."
Earlier this month, Hochul granted a broader mask mandate for most indoor settings, but said the requirement for schools would remain. He promised to reconsider the question of schools by the first week of March.
The broad mask mandate was implemented in December during a COVID-19 surge prompted by the Omron edition.
Masks are still required in some places, including public transportation, homeless shelters, prisons and prisons, adult care facilities and health care settings.
Andrew Rigi, executive director of the NYC Hospitality Alliance, said lifting vaccine requirements would be a positive step for restaurants, bars and theaters.
“We need to remain smart and safe, and at the same time revise the mandates as the COVID risks subside. So this would be welcome news for many restaurants and bars, although I would not be surprised if some Businesses willingly want to keep it." Andrew Rigi, executive director of the NYC Hospitality Alliance, said in a text message to the Associated Press.
The mayor is hoping to begin lifting restrictions, but said his decisions, like those of the governor, will be influenced by key metrics.
"The numbers in New York City are decreasing day by day," Adams said. “So while the COVID indicators show a low level of risk and we see no surprises this week, on Monday, March 7th we will be lifting the Key2NYC requirements as well,” he said.
The Key2NYC program was put in place last August to pressure New Yorkers to get vaccinated—or risk losing out on many of the city's attractions, such as museums and theaters, as well as restaurants and bars.