NEW York Gov. Kathy Hochul defended her position to impose a new mask mandate in the state to curb a surge in new COVID cases and hospitalizations.
“The objective is to protect the health of New Yorkers and protect the economy,” Gov. Hochul said. “It is a short term measure. Given that we are in a different place now, we can deal with it, this has a deadline on it.”
Hochul held a press briefing on Tuesday, Dec. 14 to update residents on the state’s ongoing pandemic response efforts to combat the rising cases of coronavirus and hospitalizations across New York.
New York’s new indoor mask mandate went into effect on Monday, Dec. 13 and will remain in effect until January 15, 2022. Masks are required to be worn in all indoor places unless businesses or venues implement a vaccine requirement.
Hochul reported that there has been a statewide surge in case rates and COVID-19 hospitalizations across New York. She said that cases per 100,000 people are up 58% statewide since Thanksgiving and that hospitalizations per 100,000 were up 70% since Thanksgiving.
“This is a holiday surge,” Hochul said. “Our statewide case rate has gone up 58% since Thanksgiving. We don’t always have a clear picture on cases in real time, so going by per 100,000 gives us a better look, and these are not trending in the right direction. 29% increase just last week for hospitalizations, 70% now since Thanksgiving, we anticipated this. This is an alarming jump.”
Businesses and other indoor venues a choice to either require all customers to wear masks or they can implement a vaccinated-only policy and check the vaccine status of its guests.
For anyone over the age of 5 to dine indoors or take part in most indoor activities, including shows and other entertainment events, proof of vaccination must be shown.
The governor also reiterated her call for residents to get their booster shots, and mentioned that 30 percent of New York residents have not been vaccinated at all, calling it “the crisis of the unvaccinated.”
“We know what to do, get vaccinated and get the booster, stay home when you’re not feeling well and don’t assume you’re protected because you’ve had one dose of vaccination,” Hochul said. “We are not where we were a year ago – we now have the tools to fight this pandemic and prevent New Yorkers from getting severely ill from COVID-19. Take the preventative measures at your disposal and make sure your loved ones do the same. We will get through this together.” n
