NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — Gov. Kathy Hochul on Friday announced New York State would be extending its mandate requiring masks in indoor public places and schools for an additional two weeks.
Speaking at a press conference on Long Island, the governor noted that COVID-19 continues to remain a threat, despite the improving numbers, and the mask mandate has been a “critical tool” in reducing infections.
The masking requirement will not be in effect until Feb. 10, statewide, according to Hochul.
The governor said the state will continue to monitor COVID-19 conditions in the state to see if the mandate should be extended even longer.
“We're going to continue doing this not by month, not by three months – we're going to do it every two weeks now,” Hochul said.
“If we continue on this rapid trend downward, we will be in a good place. If it levels off, or something else happens, I need that flexibility, and I'm going to continue to reserve that,” she added. “But also, people are waiting to hear when some of these restrictions are going to be lifted. We are going to continue with our flexibility.”
Hochul added that New York State’s masking policy in schools will also remain in effect, “despite the fact there was a little blip.”
The governor noted that the state has the legal right to mandate mask wearing in schools, despite a ruling from a Long Island judge ruled earlier this week that the requirement was “unconstitutional.”
That decision was overruled a day later after an Appellate judge granted a stay, allowing the mandate to remain in place while Attorney General Letitia James and her office continues the appeals process.
“The only reason we have this is because this is how we can keep our schools open,” Hochul said of the school masking policy. “When our schools are open, and kids are safe, their moms and dads can get back to work and start that path to normalcy. And there will come a time we can talk about lifting this as well. We're just not there yet.”
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