Starting Wednesday, the statewide school mask requirement is being lifted. New York state Gov. Kathy Hochul made the announcement Sunday while noting a significant downward trend in COVID-19 cases.
On Jan. 10, Hochul noted a state COVID test positivity rate of 23.2%. As of Saturday, that rate was 1.7%. Just as significant are the cases for children 18 and under. During that same 51-day stretch of time, pediatric cases fell from 14,167 to 229.
“We’re at our lowest point in pediatric cases,” Hochul said.
While the requirement is being lifted in the schools, mask requirements remain for: health-care and adult-care facilities; correctional facilities; homeless shelters; domestic violence shelters; and any public transportation, including bus, train and airplanes.
