New York commuters are no longer required to wear masks on public transportation, Gov. Kathy Hochul said Wednesday. A mandate that people had largely stopped heeding, and officials had stopped enforcing, months ago.
“Starting today, masks will be optional,” Hochul said before getting her Omicron variant booster shot in Manhattan.
Hochul said relatively steady COVID-19 rates since the Omicron surge last winter and the availability of the new booster vaccine influenced her decision to end the rule, which has been in place for over two years.
Hochul will keep the mask requirement for health facilities including nursing homes, she said.
Masking requirements will remain in effect at state-regulated health care facilities and clinical settings.
We are following the data & will continue to adjust our policies as necessary. We are still in this together.— Governor Kathy Hochul (@GovKathyHochul) September 7, 2022
