New York state has lifted its indoor mask mandate as cases of the Omicron Covid variant plummetted by more than 90 per cent from their January peak.
Governor Kathy Hochul announced she would allow the state mandate requiring masks at businesses without vaccination status checks to expire on Thursday.
“We’re in a new phase of the pandemic, and we need to keep being smart and using the tools we have to fight Covid.”
Gov Hochul said face coverings will still be required on public transport, in schools and childcare centres, state-run nursing homes, homeless shelters and healthcare centres.
In New York City, many residents and businesses welcomed the move to lift compulsory mask use indoors.
“Welcome back New York,” tweeted one city resident.
Another wrote: “I thank the masks for helping in the darkest days. We are not 2020 or 2021 now. We vaxed. We are moving forward.”
A spokesman for Mayor Eric Adams said the city was still encouraging residents to wear masks, although has not mandated their use.
“We encourage all New Yorkers to continue to wear high-quality masks when indoors or in crowded spaces and to get vaccinated and boosted to stop the spread,” said Fabien Levy, a spokesperson for New York City Mayor Eric Adams.
Other cities and towns across the state would be responsible for setting their own rules on masking, Ms Hochul said.
“We hit our peak on January 7, but now we’ve noticed a 93 per cent drop in cases,” Gov Hochul said.
“That is exactly what we’ve been waiting for.”
Gov Hochul said she would review the mandate on masks in schools next month.
“We’re getting tests out so kids can come back safely from Midwinter break, and I expect to make an assessment on masks based on the data in early March,” she said.
Several neighbouring states including Connecticut, Delaware and New Jersey signalled they would lift mask mandates earlier this week.
