Hochul Reimposes NY Indoor Mask Mandate To Fight Omicron

NEW YORK CITY — Masks will once again be required at all indoor public places in New York unless they require proof of vaccination against the coronavirus, Gov. Kathy Hochul said.

Hochul said Friday she'll reimpose a statewide mask mandate as a measure to fight the omicron variant and a growing surge in overall COVID-19 cases as the holiday approach.

She placed blame on insufficient vaccination rates outside New York City, where coronavirus levels — though rising — have been much lower than elsewhere in the state thanks to its higher levels of inoculations.

"I have to protect people but also the economy," she said.

I share New Yorkers’ frustration that we are not past this pandemic, but the winter surge is here & we must take action.

Starting Monday through January 15, businesses will have the option to implement either a vaccine or mask requirement. 1/
— Kathy Hochul (@GovKathyHochul) December 10, 2021

The measure will take effect Dec. 13 and run through Jan. 15, 2022, Hochul said.

She said the measure is designed to be temporary, but officials will reassess it in January.

New York's statewide case rate has increased by 43 percent and its hospitalizations have grown by 29 percent since Thanksgiving, officials said.

"I have warned for weeks that additional steps could be necessary, and now we are at that point based upon three metrics: Increasing cases, reduced hospital capacity, and insufficient vaccination rates in certain areas," Hochul said in a statement.

The measure requires all New Yorkers to wear masks in indoor public spaces, unless the venue already requires proof of fully vaccinated status. Fully vaccinated means 14 days past their second dose of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, or 14 days past their single shot of Johnson & Johnson vaccine.