People wearing face masks walk out of a coffee shop in New York, the United States, on Feb. 9, 2022. (Xinhua/Liu Yanan)
NEW YORK, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- New York State on Wednesday joined New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware, Oregon and California in easing the requirement for mask or proof of vaccination in indoor settings as daily new COVID-19 cases plummeted recently.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced Wednesday that statewide indoor business mask-or-vaccine requirement will be lifted starting Thursday and will remain optional for businesses, local governments and counties to enforce.
The mask-or-vaccine protocol was implemented on Dec. 10 as the Omicron variant caused a spike of cases in the state and extended to Thursday.
With case counts plummeting and hospitalizations sharply declining, this temporary measure is no longer needed statewide, said Hochul.
Still, mask requirements will remain in place in certain high-density settings like hospitals, nursing homes, shelters, transportation and other related entities.
"While we're moving in the right direction, this pandemic isn't over," Hochul said.
Hochul added that mask requirement in schools would be reassessed in early March based on public health data.
The announcement was welcomed by business representatives in New York State.
"Governor Hochul's decision to allow expiration of mask mandates in the workplace will encourage the return of employees to the office and accelerate the city's economic recovery. It is the right call," said Kathryn Wylde, president and CEO of Partnership for New York City.
"We hope new policies will encourage New Yorkers to continue to support New York businesses still recovering from the pandemic," said Heather Briccetti, president and CEO of Business Council of New York State.
New York State added 6,041 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday with the positivity rate at 3.67 percent, according to the newly-issued data by the state. Statewide COVID-19 cases fell as much as 93 percent since the peak on Jan. 7 and COVID-19 hospitalizations dropped 63 percent in the state since the peak on Jan. 12. ■
People line up to have COVID-19 tests at a testing site in New York, the United States, on Feb. 9, 2022. (Xinhua/Liu Yanan)
People walk on a street in New York, the United States, on Feb. 9, 2022. (Xinhua/Liu Yanan)
A sign requiring people to wear face masks is seen on a door in New York, the United States, on Feb. 9, 2022. (Xinhua/Liu Yanan)
