By Aaron Miller-
The mask mandate in Newyork schools wi masks in schools beginning on Wednesday, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Sunday, citing steep declines in Covid-19 hospitalizations statewide.
The U.S government stipulated the need for individual counties and cities with higher transmission of Covid-19 to continue the mask mandate in schools. Hochul also left open the choice for parents and guardians to still choose to send children to schools in masks.
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The news comes as a relief for parents and students who had objected seriously to mask mandates, and saw policies in that bracket as being intrusive to their children despite the alarming death rates that affected Newyork.
‘I want to thank the millions of New Yorkers who masked up and helped us reach unprecedented levels of vaccinations,’ Adams tweeted. ‘We’ve fought a long, hard battle. And we’re winning it because of the grit and determination of every day New Yorkers like you.’
“My friends, the day has come,” Hochul said, emphasizing that the decision was made in consultation with the city’s department of health and education officials.
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According to statewide data released on Saturday, New York recorded a statewide seven-day positivity rate of under 2% with hospitalizations below 2,000 for the first time since Nov. 14. The state also recorded its lowest seven-day average of pediatric cases since July and an 80% decline in pediatric hospitalizations, the governor said.
The governor also made reference to new guidance issued by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday that influenced the state’s new rules, which will go into effect on March 2
“We will not stand for any bullying or ostracization or harassment for an individual or business who chooses to wear a mask as we’re still going through this,” Hochul said in a statement. “And we are going to remain vigilant. We are going to continue to distribute masks, distribute test kits and continue our vaccination strategy to make sure there’s plenty of opportunities to get vaccinated and boosted.”
The new directive includes children who are ages two and older in childcare facilities. Counties and cities that have a higher rate of Covid-19 transmission have the “flexibility” to keep the mask requirement in schools, Hochul said, and parents and guardians may still send their children to school in masks.
Mayor Eric Adams announced on Sunday that as long as Covid-19 numbers continue to decline, he intends to remove the indoor mask mandate for public school children on March 7.
Adams said he will make final determination on school masks on Friday.
“If we see no unforeseen spikes and our numbers continue to show a low level of risk, New York City will remove the indoor mask mandate for public school children, effective next Monday, March 7,” Adams’ statement read.
“Our schools have been among the safest places for our children since the beginning of the pandemic, and we will continue to make the proper public health decisions to keep our kids safe, including making masks available for any child or school staff member who wishes to continue wearing them,” the mayor said
Adams also revealed that proof of vaccination will no longer be required for indoor dining, fitness, and entertainment values beginning March 7 as long as Covid metrics don’t worsen.
Earlier this month, Hochul announced the expiration of a broad mask mandate for the state, including indoor dining and entertainment, expire but said the schools requirement would remain in place. She had promised to revisit the schools question by the first week of March.
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