New York Lifts Mask, Social Distancing Mandates for Vaccinated New Yorkers Today

Vaccinated individuals in most indoor locations in New York will no longer have to wear masks after Governor Andrew Cuomo adopted new Federal mask guidelines. After days of not coming to a public decision about whether he would accept the federal guidelines, delay acceptance, or simply create his own rules, Cuomo announced that effective tomorrow, May 19, the federal guidelines from the CDC would become operative.

Governor Cuomo said, “The people of New York and visitors alike should take solace in the lifting of mask requirements, but be respectful of those who may still feel safest wearing their mask in public and business owners who may still ask patrons to don their mask.”

While many will see this cessation in mask mandates as an indication to toss their face-covering in the garbage bin of history, NYC Health Commissioner Dave Chokshi made clear that he will not be taking off his mask indoors any time soon saying that he will only remove it if he is “in [his] own household or with a small group of other individuals whom [he] know[s] to be fully vaccinated”

 (Kevin P. Coughlin / Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo)