Governor Hochul ends New York’s masking mandate

On February 9, Governor Kathy Hochul announced that on February 10, she was ending a divisive rule that broadly forced all businesses and venues without a COVID-19 vaccine mandate to require employees, customers, and visitors to wear a mask. What does this mean for your business?

Background

On December 10, 2021, Governor Hochul announced a statewide vaccine-or-mask mandate for virtually all businesses and venues. Per the mandate, companies and venues implementing a mask rule were required to ensure face coverings were worn in all indoor public places unless a vaccination mandate also was in place. Further, all patrons past their second birthday and medically able to tolerate a face covering had to wear a mask at all times while indoors except for physical eating or drinking.

Businesses and venues implementing a proof-of-vaccination requirement had to ensure anyone 12 years of age or older was fully vaccinated before entering indoors. The mandate, as extended, was expected to expire on February 10.  Governor Hochul elected not to continue the mandate.