Gov. Hochul requires masks yet again in NYS

Masks are once again required at all indoor public places in New York unless an establishment requires proof of full vaccination against the coronavirus, Gov. Kathy Hochul said on Dec. 10. The mandate will remain in place until Jan. 15, when Hochul said she will take another look at where New York stands, and adapt the mandate to the circumstances.

Effective Dec. 13, anyone over the age of 2 is required to wear a mask covering their face and nose at all times while in an indoor public space. Businesses and venues that choose to impose a vaccine mandate would not be required to also mandate masks, according to Hochul’s office. Those in violation of the mandate are subject to a $1,000 fine. Local health departments will be tasked with enforcing the mandate.

“As governor, my top priority is to protect the health of New Yorkers and the health of our economy, and these temporary measures will help us get through the holiday season safely,” Hochul said Monday at a press conference. “I share everyone’s frustration that we have gotten to this point, especially with the vaccine at our disposal … if others follow suit, these measures will no longer be necessary.”

The governor’s decision came just days after the emergence of the omicron variant in the state, along with a predicted winter surge of Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations statewide, threatening a hospital bed shortage like the one experienced last year.

Many North Shore residents have been vocal on their stance against state-mandated mask wearing since the height of the pandemic, suggesting “forcing” New Yorkers to cover-up in an effort to control the spread of Covid-19 is a violation of their constitutional rights as an individual citizen. 

“What happened to the HIPAA laws? Thrown out the window with the rest of our rights and liberties,” Vinny Sieveri, of Bayville said. “Wake up people, you’re being lied to.” 

Others, however, welcome the mandate, hoping a blanket mandate like the governor’s is the best way to slow the spread of the virus. 

“Just because you believe wearing a face mask is not an effective measure doesn’t make it factual,” Steven Haar, also of Bayville said. “Wearing a face mask by the majority of people in a community, does slow the spread of Covid 19.”

“All of the science supports that wearing masks is an important tool to slow the spread of the virus. Until we are at a place where virus transmission is very low, masks should be worn in schools,” Roger Friedman, a parent from Sea Cliff said. “The only way out of this pandemic is through mitigation measures including vaccinations, testing, social distancing and masking.  If we all pulled together and did all of these things we could put this horrible pandemic behind us.”

With Monday’s mandate, New York joins several states that have already re-imposed similar indoor mask mandates, including Washington, Oregon, Illinois, New Mexico, Nevada and Hawaii, as some parts of the country grapple with some of their worst positive case spikes of the pandemic so far.

On Sunday, Long Island reported a seven-day positivity level of 6.66 percent, while some areas further upstate reached roughly 9 percent in comparison. Manhattan has the lowest level in the state, at 2.81 percent, where proof of vaccination is required for entry into indoor public places such as restaurants and theaters.

These numbers, as well as studies from the state’s Department of Health indicate that the Covid-19 vaccines are effective, particularly in preventing severe disease. Health officials are continuing to urge eligible New Yorkers to get fully vaccinated and boosted as soon as possible.

“Public health trumps individual liberty in any number of ways in our society and it should be the same in this instance,” Friedman said. “Being vaccinated and wearing a mask when necessary is taking care of each other, not trampling on the constitution.”

Some leaders across the state said they would not follow the order, while others said they would, at least partially. Hochul indicated she will not seek a confrontation with those who oppose it. State officials are still unaware of how effective the mandate will be if some counties opt out and are not compelled to enforce it.

As for Nassau, a spokesman for Country Executive-elect Bruce Blakeman said he would not enforce the mandate once he takes office on Jan. 1. He joins several upstate county leaders who said they are refusing to enforce the order.

“Nassau County is not in crisis and should not be painted with the same broad brush as the rest of the state,” Blakeman said Monday in a statement. “Ninety-seven percent of adults in Nassau County have received at least their first dose of the vaccine, and Nassau hospitals have adequate capacity to handle existing demand,” he said.

Although the percentage of New Yorkers fully vaccinated continues to increase, that rise “is not fast enough to completely curb the spread of the virus, particularly among communities with low vaccination coverage,” the state said in a release on Dec. 10. Since Thanksgiving, the statewide seven-day average case rate has increased by 43 percent and hospitalizations have increased by 29 percent.