ALBANY, NY – Today Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that effective Wednesday, the state is adopting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s guidance on face masks and social distancing for vaccinated people.
According to the CDC’s guidance, “fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear a mask or physically distance in any setting, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance.”
However, immunocompromised and unvaccinated people should continue to wear a mask and social distance.
Additionally, face masks are still required on public transportation, in nursing homes, in homeless shelters, correctional facilities, schools and health care facilities.
Individual private venues may still impose additional requirements.
“If you are vaccinated, you are safe. No masks, no social distancing,” Cuomo said in a press conference.
This Wednesday, most capacity restrictions will be lifted, including restaurants, museums, retail and offices.
Today, the outdoor food and beverage curfew is lifted. The indoor food and beverage curfew will be lifted May 31.
Outdoor gathering limits have increased to 500 people and indoor gathering limits have increased to 250. Indoor residential gathering limits have been increased to 50 people.
The full press conference can be viewed in the video above.
“The CDC’s recommendation for vaccinated people, and the Governor’s adoption of it, are important steps for us to move toward resuming ‘normal’ activities,” said Oswego County Health Department Director Jiancheng Hunag. “It means that the approved vaccines are working well and protecting people from the virus. If you have not been vaccinated, please go get your shot. The vaccines are now widely available. Also, please continue to follow the CDC’s guidance for schools, which remains unchanged, as many children have not been vaccinated yet.”
UPDATE with more information:
Business Mask Rules
Given that the CDC has advised that fully vaccinated individuals do not need to wear masks and over 52 percent of New Yorkers over the age of 18 are fully vaccinated, the State will authorize businesses to continue to require masks for all in their establishments, consistent with the CDC guidance. In most settings, vaccinated individuals will not be required to wear a mask. Unvaccinated individuals, under both CDC and state guidance must wear masks in all public settings.
The Department of Health strongly recommends masks in indoor settings where vaccination status of individuals is unknown. Mask requirements by businesses must adhere to all applicable federal and state laws and regulations.
This recommendation will apply across commercial settings, including retail, food services, offices, gyms and fitness centers, amusement and family entertainment, hair salons, barber shops and other personal care services, among other settings.
Business Capacity Rules
As previously announced, most business capacities — which are currently based upon percentage of maximum occupancy — will be removed on May 19. Businesses will only be limited by the space available for patrons or parties of patrons to maintain the required social distance of 6 feet.
However, given that the CDC has advised that fully vaccinated individuals do not need to maintain social distance, businesses may eliminate the 6 feet of required social distancing, and therefore increase capacity, only if all patrons within the establishment — or a separate designated part of the establishment — present proof of full vaccination status. Proof of full vaccination status can be provided by patrons through paper form, digital application, or the State’s Excelsior Pass.
For areas where vaccination status of individuals is unknown and for patrons who do not present proof of full vaccination status, the required social distance of 6 feet still applies until more New Yorkers are fully vaccinated. This change will apply across all commercial settings, except the exempt settings outlined by the CDC.
Small- and Large-Scale Event Rules
Small-scale events will be able to apply the revised business mask and capacity rules. Specifically, for events below the State’s social gathering limit of 250 indoors or 500 outdoors, event venues will be able to require masks for all patrons — and DOH strongly recommends masks in indoor settings where vaccination status is unknown — and social distancing of 6 feet will be required between parties of attendees, unless all attendees present proof of full vaccination status. Unvaccinated people should still wear masks.
For large-scale events that exceed the State’s social gathering limits, event venues will only be limited by the space available for patrons or parties of patrons to maintain the required distance, as follows:
- Unvaccinated attendees and attendees who have an unknown vaccination status must be spaced 6 feet apart in assigned sections. Masks will be required in indoor event settings, except while seated and eating or drinking.
- Fully vaccinated attendees may be spaced directly next to one another at 100 percent capacity instead of 6 feet apart in assigned sections that are designated solely for fully vaccinated individuals. Masks are optional. Venues must verify vaccination status to take advantage of reduced social distancing requirements.
-
- Children under the age of 12 who are not yet vaccine eligible, and under the age of 16 who have not yet been able to be vaccinated, may accompany and be seated with a vaccinated adult in a fully vaccinated section.
-
-
- Proof of full vaccination status can be provided by attendees through paper form, digital application, or the State’s Excelsior Pass.
-
For large-scale events, proof of recent negative COVID-19 test result for attendees who are over the age of four remains required for unvaccinated attendees in indoor event settings above the State’s social gathering limit but will become optional in outdoor event settings.
Today’s announcement builds on Governor Cuomo’s recent measures to further reopen the economy given significant progress in vaccinations and sustained reduction in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations. As of yesterday, 62 percent of New York’s adults had received at least one vaccine dose and 52 percent had completed their vaccine series.
Additional details on the State’s New York Forward reopening guidance updates will be availablehere.
missing or outdated ad config
Given this then the big question is why does it matter your status….Children under the age of 12 who are not yet vaccine eligible, and under the age of 16 who have not yet been able to be vaccinated, may accompany and be seated with a vaccinated adult in a fully vaccinated section.