State to Reassess Measure on Jan. 15, 2022 UPDATED WITH EDITOR’S NOTES AND COUNTY VACCINATION OPPORTUNITIES 4:20 PM
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced masks will be required to be worn in all indoor public places unless businesses or venues implement a vaccine requirement. This a major action to address the winter surge comes as COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations rise statewide to be in alignment with the CDC’s recommendations for communities with substantial and high transmission. The State Health Commissioner issued a determination solidifying the requirement. Local Health Departments will enforce the new mask mandate to head off the rapid spread due to holiday social carelessness.
“I have warned for weeks that additional steps could be necessary, and now we are at that point based upon three metrics: Increasing cases, reduced hospital capacity, and insufficient vaccination rates in certain areas,” Governor Hochul added.
Since Thanksgiving, the statewide seven-day average case rate has increased by 43% and hospitalizations have increased by 29%. While the percentage of New Yorkers fully vaccinated continues to increase—gaining 2% from Thanksgiving weekend to now—the uptick is not fast enough to completely curb the spread of the virus, particularly among communities with low vaccination coverage.
(Editor’s Note: Today the White Plains Covid Tracker reported Westchester new positive cases on Wednesday, December 7 as 366 unfortunate individuals testing positive for covid, 3.7% of 9,954 tested Wednesday bringing the total of new cases of covid to 2,344 new cases in one week from December 1 to December 7, compared to 1008 for the first six days of the week. Note That is a 43% increase in new cases in a week, the same as the increase in state infection average WEEK case rate, 43%.
Hospitalizations were stated by the county in the County Executive’s Covid briefing Monday as 84 in the county. two weeks ago on November 15, there were 170 new positives. Those new positives infected 2 persons each (366 divided by 170 positives on Novemver 17. . If the 366 positives only created 84 hospitalizations (if the 84 figure is recent and not lagging behind for cosmetic, more palatable numbers, then the Westchester hospitalization rate of new infections two weeks ago (170) December 7 is 23%, behind of the state wide 7 day average of of 29% in hospitalizations. Westchester is doing better than the rest of the state, but not by much.
Reacting to Governor Hochul’s NEW MASKING OF NEW YORK, County Executive George Latimer wrote:
“We recognize Governor Kathy Hochul for her leadership in announcing a statewide mask mandate. This pandemic has reached crisis proportions in parts of the state, and we can’t be sure that it won’t rise to equal status in the rest of the state. The Governor does not make these decisions lightly, and I respect and appreciate her steady hand in these difficult times. Westchester County will do our professional best to enforce this mask provision. At this point, this is the best move to protect the health of New Yorkers, and to protect the health of the New York State economy. It is far less restrictive than a shutdown of our businesses; it is an action that shows leadership and restraint.”
Westchester County Executive George Latimer issued a news release today, saying:
“We want Westchester County to emerge on the other side of the COVID-19 pandemic, and getting your vaccine or booster is more important now than ever with the Omicron Variant making its way into our region. One thing that we do know is that the vaccinations are working, and it is the best way to help prevent the spread of this disease.
We know that nearly all of Westchester County’s population has received at least one dose of the vaccine, and we appreciate everyone doing their part to keep our communities healthy and safe. But – if you have not yet gotten the vaccine or your booster, please make an appointment to do so. Help us turn the corner on this deadly disease.”
Westchester County is hosting multiple COVID-19 vaccine and booster clinics at locations throughout the County. Visit the County Health Department Website to schedule an appointment today.
The Department of Health is holding vaccine booster clinics for eligible individuals by appointment only, at 134 Court Street in White Plains. Schedule a Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson Booster shot HERE.
The New York State Vaccination Clinic for anyone ages five and up has moved from the Westchester County Center in White Plains, to Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla. Appointments are required. Make an appointment HERE.
The State Department of Health has produced nation-leading studies, published in the CDC’s MMWR and the New England Journal of Medicine, which demonstrate the COVID-19 vaccines’ effectiveness – particularly in preventing severe disease. The Department continues to urge eligible New Yorkers of all ages to get fully vaccinated and boosted as soon as possible.
This determination is based on the State’s weekly seven-day case rate as well as increasing hospitalizations. The new business and venue requirements extend to both patrons and staff. This measure is effective Dec. 13, 2021 until Jan. 15, 2022, after which the State will re-evaluate based on current conditions. The new measure brings added layers of mitigation during the holidays when more time is spent indoors shopping, gathering, and visiting holiday-themed destinations.
“As Governor, my two top priorities are to protect the health of New Yorkers and to protect the health of our economy. The temporary measures I am taking today will help accomplish this through the holiday season. We shouldn’t have reached the point where we are confronted with a winter surge, especially with the vaccine at our disposal, and I share many New Yorkers’ frustration that we are not past this pandemic yet,” Governor Hochul said. “I want to thank the more than 80 percent of New Yorkers who have done the right thing to get fully vaccinated. If others will follow suit, these measures will no longer be necessary.”
Acting Health Commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett said, “Community spread requires a community-minded solution, as the Omicron variant emerges and the overwhelmingly dominant Delta variant continues to circulate. We have the tools we need to protect against the virus – and now we must ensure we use them. There are tools each individual can use, and there are actions we can take as government. Getting vaccinated protects you, and wearing a mask is how we will better protect each other. Both vaccination and mask-wearing are needed to slow this COVID-19 winter surge.”
A violation of any provision of this measure is subject to all civil and criminal penalties, including a maximum fine of $1,000 for each violation. Local health departments are being asked to enforce these requirements.
Business/Venue Proof of Full-Course Vaccination Requirement
Businesses and venues who implement a proof of vaccination requirement can accept Excelsior Pass, Excelsior Pass Plus, SMART Health Cards issued outside of New York State, or a CDC Vaccination Card. In accordance with CDC’s definition of fully vaccinated, full-course vaccination is defined as 14 days past an individual’s last vaccination dose in their initial vaccine series (14 days past the second shot of a two-dose Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine; 14 days past the one-shot Janssen/Johnson & Johnson vaccine). The State also accepts WHO-approved vaccines for these purposes. Parents and guardians can retrieve and store an Excelsior Pass and/or Excelsior Pass Plus for children or minors under legal guardianship.
Business/Venue Mask-Wearing Requirement
Businesses and venues that implement a mask requirement must ensure all patrons two years and older wear a mask at all times while indoors.
Continued Masking Requirements
Unvaccinated individuals continue to be responsible for wearing masks, in accordance with federal CDC guidance. Further, the State’s masking requirements continue to be in effect for pre-K to grade 12 schools, public transit, homeless shelters, correctional facilities, nursing homes, and health care settings per CDC guidelines.
New York State and the State’s Department of Health continue to strongly recommend mask-wearing in all public indoor settings as an added layer of protection, even when not required. Children 2 – 5 who remain ineligible for vaccination must wear a proper-fitting mask.
COVID-19 vaccines and booster doses are free and widely available statewide. New Yorkers can visit vaccines.gov, text their ZIP code to 438829, or call 1-800-232-0233 to find nearby locations. To schedule an appointment at a state-run mass vaccination site, New Yorkers can visit the Am-I-Eligible site. New Yorkers can also contact their health care provider, county health departments, Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), rural health centers, or pharmacies.
New Yorkers can retrieve their Excelsior Pass or Excelsior Pass Plus here. Businesses and venues can download the Excelsior Pass Scanner app—free for any business nationwide and available in more than ten languages—here.
