NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — New York is adopting new federal guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that ease the rules for fully vaccinated people.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the updated protocols regulating mask wearing and social distancing will take effect Wednesday to coincide with the Tri-State area's major reopening that lifts most capacity restrictions.
Per CDC guidelines, immunocompromised and unvaccinated people should continue to wear a mask and social distance, but those who are fully vaccinated can stop wearing masks outdoors in crowds and in most indoor settings.
"For our part, we're adopting the CDC and we're saying, 'Let's open,'" Cuomo said. "If you are vaccinated, you are safe — no masks, no social distancing."
Masks will be required on public transit, in nursing homes, schools, healthcare facilities, homeless shelters and correctional facilities.
Individual private venues still have the ability to add additional guidelines to the state and CDC protocols, Cuomo noted.
New York’s mask mandate first went into effect in April 2020, when Cuomo first required everyone over the age of 2 to wear a mask when out in public or when social distancing was not possible.
On Wednesday, when the mask rules are relaxed, Nassau County Executive Laura Curran, who was among those calling on the governor to adopt the CDC rules, said we still have to respect those who want to cover up.
"We're in a period of flux right now, we're in a period of evolution when it comes to masks, so I would just ask everyone let's not blame, let's not shame one way or another. If someone chooses to wear a mask, you've got to respect that. You don't know what their story is, you don't know what their reasons are," Curran said.
The governor also announced that at least 50% of seating will be designated for vaccinated people and the other 50% for unvaccinated fans at Madison Square Garden and Barclays Center for the NBA playoffs.
In the unvaccinated section, fans must wear masks and maintain six feet of social distancing.
"The 50% was the guideline, but it's up to us, and we're going higher. We're going to still make room for people who are unvaccinated, but honestly, we're going to favor the vaccinated," said James L. Dolan, CEO of Madison Square Garden Sports and Madison Square Garden Entertainment.
The New York City Marathon will also return in the fall on Nov. 7. Registration opens June 8.
Radio City Music Hall will also host the Tribeca Film Festival's closing night ceremony on June 19 at 100% capacity with a fully vaccinated, mask-free audience.
"This beautiful hall will be filled once again with what I'm sure is going to be a phenomenal evening and attraction," Cuomo said. "Having Radio City back at 100% without masks, with people enjoying New York and the New York arts is going to be not only symbolic and metaphoric, but I think is going to go a long way towards bringing back this state overall."
Cuomo said those who are not vaccinated won't be able to attend.
"The whole point of the CDC's change, the whole point of our change, is to say to people there are benefits to being vaccinated," Cuomo said.
Dolan said Radio City Music Hall will remain a 100% vaccinated venue.
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