NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — Ahead of a major relaxation of mask and capacity rules in New York, Mayor Bill de Blasio is still calling for caution.
Wednesday marks a big turning point in the fight against COVID-19 as the Empire State officially adopts the CDC's new guidance easing the rules on mask wearing and social distancing for fully vaccinated people.
"What you are seeing is extraordinary. This comeback is ahead of schedule," de Blasio said during his daily briefing Monday.
But the mayor continues to still urge fully vaccinated people, who can essentially go mask-free in most situations, to remain cautious.
"And if they think they're in a situation where they're closer to people or there's unvaccinated people present, it's always smarter just out of an abundance of caution to wear a mask," de Blasio said. "Abundance of caution is really smart if you're going to constantly be in settings combining vaccinated and unvaccinated people."
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Case in point, city health commissioner Dr. Dave Chokshi said he'll still have his mask on in indoor public spaces.
"While I'm fully vaccinated, I'll be keeping my mask on indoors in almost all settings," Chokshi said. "Those public health precautions that got us to where we are right now, will remain important for just a bit longer."
Going forward, it'll mostly be up to businesses to make and enforce rules about who's allowed in and de Blasio doesn't foresee any problems.
"After everything we've been through in this city I think people will be understanding," the mayor said. "Every institution will set its own rules and anyone who participates will understand those rules."
In New Jersey, Gov. Phil Murphy cited that burden on businesses as one reason why he's not lifting his indoor mask mandate yet.