Masks Now Mandated At Childcare Facilities For Kids 2+: Hochul

LONG ISLAND, NY —With the delta variant continuing to rise and certain areas in New York, including Long Island, cause for concern, Gov. Kathy Hochul unveiled a new series of universal mask requirements Wednesday — with kids in childcare centers now required to mask up.

The requirement applies to children ages two and up at New York State Office of Children and Family Services-licensed and -registered child care centers, home-based group family and family child care programs, after-school child care programs and enrolled legally exempt group programs during operational hours, Hochul said.

The goal is to provide consistency between child care program children and school children, many of whom often share the same buildings, she said.

New masking requirements will also apply to congregate mental health and substance abuse programs and facilities, juvenile detention programs and residential facilities, congregate foster care programs, runaway and homeless youth, domestic violence and other shelter programs. The requirements apply to anyone medically able to tolerate wearing a mask, regardless of vaccination status, Hochul said.

The new mask requirement in child care facilities brings New York State into compliance with federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance issued in July that recommends universal indoor masking for anyone age two and older who has not been vaccinated against COVID-19 and is medically able to wear a mask, Hochul said.

"For children under 12 who are not yet eligible to be vaccinated, masks are the best line of defense against COVID-19 infection," Hochul said.

Cases of the coronavirus, many severe are rising in children who are not yet eligible for vaccinations due to the highly transmissible delta variant, Hochul said.

Other initiatives were also announced in the battle against COVID-19 to boost vaccination rates.

"We all want this to be over. Everybody's tired of it. It's been a long, long, long haul and great news is we have the power to end this. If every single person in New York who is eligible, and that is everybody over the age of twelve, would simply get their vaccine and then prepare to get their booster, we could get through this," Hochul said.

Music festival incentive

With an eye toward vaccinating young people, Hochul announced that 125 free tickets to the Governors Ball Music Festival are available to individuals who receive their first vaccine dose at a #VaxtoSchool pop-up location; stars including Billie Eilish will be performing.

Areas of concern across New York State include Long Island, the North Country, western New York, the Finger Lakes, and the capital region, Hochul said.

"We know that vaccines work. Here are the numbers. If you're not fully vaccinated, you're 10 times more likely to be hospitalized and 11 times more likely to die. I'm not sure who wants to play with that Russian roulette," Hochul said.

With the holidays ahead — the holiday season sparked a spike in infection rates last year — Hochul said people who are vaccinated can enjoy safe celebrations while wearing masks to avoid breakthrough infections.

With the federal government poised to approve booster shots as of Sept. 20, Hochul said $65 million will be allocate to support local efforts, with more than 200 vaccination sites identified.

In addition, with a rush of people wanting booster shots, more people trained to administer vaccinations are needed; Hochul said she is directing the Department of Health to allow allow basic EMTs to give vaccines.