New York Announces End Date for School Mask Mandate

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Sunday that the statewide school mask mandate will end on March 2nd amid a decline in COVID-19 cases.

Hochul said counties and cities may keep their own mandates in place, and parents can still choose to mask their children.

“Given the decline in our rates, our hospitalizations, strong vaccination rates and the CDC guidance, my friends, the day has come,” she said, per Fox News. “Today we are going to be announcing that we will be lifting the statewide mask requirement in schools.”

The new rules will apply to children over the age of two in childcare facilities.

Earlier this month, Hochul allowed the mask mandate for most indoor settings to expire. Masks are still required in some places, though, including public transportation.