NEW YORK (WCBS 880) -- New York City public schools will drop their outdoor mask mandate next week, officials said Friday.
Masks and face coverings will no longer be required outdoors on school grounds, but they still must be worn indoors by students, staff and visitors, according to an announcement from the Department of Education.
The change means students can remove masks in the schoolyard, during recess and while playing sports outdoors.
“I’m excited,” Mayor Eric Adams told 1010 WINS shortly after schools Chancellor David Banks made the announcement. “Now that we have done the right things— vaccinations, wearing the masks, social distancing—it’s time for us to slowly ease up on some of the mandates so we can get back to a level of normality.”
Adams said he reviews the city’s COVID-19 numbers every morning with his health advisers, and it’s been good news in recent weeks after the omicron wave waned.
“They’re showing me the numbers, and you may not be able to see my smile when I have my mask on, but trust me, I am smiling,” the mayor said. “I’m happy to know that we did the right things and the reflection of that is going to allow the easing of some of the mandates that really impacted our lives.”
Earlier Friday, Banks released a statement, saying, “Throughout the pandemic, our schools have remained some of the safest spaces for our students and staff, thanks to our gold standard health and safety protocol.”
“I am so pleased that we are able to make this exciting announcement and safely allow students and staff to remove their masks when outdoors at NYC public schools,” Banks said.
New York state still requires students to wear masks indoors at schools. Gov. Kathy Hochul has said she revisit the requirement after the midwinter break.
Also on Friday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is expected to significantly loosen federal mask-wearing guidelines.
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