NY Governor Implements Mask Mandate

Via TTN:

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has enacted an indoor mask mandate for the state after a recent spike in Covid-19 cases. New Yorkers will be required to wear masks in all indoor settings unless the business has enacted a vaccine order.

Fox News reports:

The mask mandate applies to both patrons and staff and will be in effect from Dec. 13 to Jan. 15, after which the state will reevaluate.

“As governor, my two top priorities are to protect the health of New Yorkers and to protect the health of our economy,” Hochul, a Democrat, said in a news release. “The temporary measures I am taking today will help accomplish this through the holiday season.”

New York recorded more than 68,000 positive tests for the virus in the seven-day period that ended Dec. 8. That’s the most in any seven-day stretch since the start of February.

“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.

Other states have already begun re-implementing mask mandates over the fear of the new omicron variant.