BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) - Starting Wednesday, vaccinated New Yorkers will no longer be required to wear masks in most settings.
Governor Andrew Cuomo said Monday morning that New York State will adopt the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's guidance on masks and social distancing. Under the new guidelines released last week, fully vaccinated people — those who are two weeks past their final dose of a COVID-19 vaccine — can quit wearing masks outdoors in crowds and in most indoor settings and give up social distancing.
"We have to get back to life and living and we have to do it the way New Yorkers do it: Quickly and robustly," Governor Cuomo said.
Those who are not vaccinated or have compromised immune systems must continue to wear a mask, though New York does not have any mandates that proof of a vaccination.
Masks will still be required for anyone, even those vaccinated, on public transportation, at nursing homes, schools, jails, and health care facilities.
Private businesses will be allowed to have additional guidelines at their own discretion.
"This comes at a good time for New York because we had already said we were going to do our major reopening this Wednesday," Cuomo said.
The governor said Wednesday was selected for the end of masks because of the "radical adjustment".
