On February 9, 2022, Governor Kathy Hochul announced that the statewide indoor mask mandate will expire on February 10, 2022. Governor Hochul noted that while the statewide mandate has been lifted, counties, cities, and individual businesses can elect to continue to voluntarily enforce the mandate or put in place their own masking or other COVID-19 requirements.

As we have previously reported, under the mandate, all individuals, regardless of vaccination status, were required to wear a mask in all indoor public places in New York State unless the business or venue required proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 as a condition of entry.

While the broader statewide indoor mask mandate has been lifted, certain settings will still require all individuals to wear a mask including state-regulated health care settings, adult care facilities and nursing homes; schools and childcare centers (though Governor Hochul indicated that school masking requirements will be reevaluated in early March); correctional facilities; shelters; and public transportation (buses, trains, airports, etc.).

With lifting the statewide indoor mask mandate, New York joins New Jersey and Connecticut in easing mask requirements. New Jersey does not require masks for most indoor workplaces and has recently announced that it will lift its school mask mandate March 7, 2022. Connecticut continues to require only unvaccinated individuals wear masks indoors, but has also recently announced that its school mask mandate will be lifted February 28, 2022.

Businesses should consult their local health department guidance to ensure full compliance with COVID-19 requirements.

*           *           *

Subscribe to Proskauer’s Law and the Workplace blog to stay current on the latest COVID-related developments impacting your business.  Proskauer’s cross-disciplinary, cross-jurisdictional Coronavirus Response Team is focused on supporting and addressing client concerns.  Visit our Coronavirus Resource Center for guidance on risk management measures, practical steps businesses can take and resources to help manage ongoing operations.

Posted in Coronavirus
Tags: COVID-19, Hochul, mandate, mask, new york state
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Photo of Evandro Gigante Evandro Gigante

Evandro is the go-to employment litigator and counselor when clients face their most challenging, bet the reputation claims, or want to develop policies and practices that mitigate legal risk. As an award-winning partner in the Labor & Employment Law Department, member of the…

Evandro is the go-to employment litigator and counselor when clients face their most challenging, bet the reputation claims, or want to develop policies and practices that mitigate legal risk. As an award-winning partner in the Labor & Employment Law Department, member of the Employment Litigation group, and co-head of the Counseling, Training & Pay Equity group, he represents clients on a variety of labor and employment matters, including allegations of sexual harassment, race, gender, national origin, disability and religious discrimination. In addition, Evandro handles restrictive covenant matters, including non-compete, non-solicitation and trade secret disputes. Evandro also counsels employers through the most sensitive employment issues, including matters involving employer diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

With a focus on discrimination and harassment claims, Evandro has extensive experience defending clients before federal and state courts. He tries cases before juries and arbitrators and routinely represents clients before administrative agencies such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, as well as state and local human rights commissions. Evandro often draws on his extensive litigation experience to help clients avoid the courtroom by effectuating positive change in the workplace through impactful anti-discrimination and harassment training, as well as robust employment policies.

Working in a wide range of industries, Evandro has experience representing clients in professional services, including law firms, financial services, including private equity and hedge funds, higher education, sports, media, retail, and others. Evandro also advises charter schools and other not-for-profit organizations on labor and employment matters on a pro bono basis.

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Photo of Laura Fant Laura Fant

Laura Fant is a special employment law counsel in the Labor & Employment Law Department and co-administrative leader of the Counseling, Training & Pay Equity Practice Group. Her practice is dedicated to providing clients with practical solutions to common (and uncommon) employment concerns…

Laura Fant is a special employment law counsel in the Labor & Employment Law Department and co-administrative leader of the Counseling, Training & Pay Equity Practice Group. Her practice is dedicated to providing clients with practical solutions to common (and uncommon) employment concerns, with a focus on legal compliance, risk management and mitigation strategies, and workplace culture considerations.

Laura regularly counsels clients across numerous industries on a wide variety of employment matters involving recruitment and hiring, employee leave and reasonable accommodation issues, performance management, and termination of employment . She also advises on preparing, implementing and enforcing employment and separation agreements, employee handbooks and company policies, as well as provides training on topics including discrimination and harassment in the workplace. Laura is a frequent contributor to Proskauer’s Law and the Workplace blog and The Proskauer Brief podcast.

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Photo of Raymond Arroyo Raymond Arroyo

Raymond Arroyo is an associate in the Labor Department and a member of the Employment Litigation & Arbitration Group.

During his time at Proskauer, Raymond has focused on a wide range of employment matters, including employment discrimination litigation, labor/management relations, and policies, handbooks…

Raymond Arroyo is an associate in the Labor Department and a member of the Employment Litigation & Arbitration Group.

During his time at Proskauer, Raymond has focused on a wide range of employment matters, including employment discrimination litigation, labor/management relations, and policies, handbooks and training, among others. Raymond has gained experience across a wide variety of industries including financial services, educational institutions, and sports.

Raymond earned his J.D. from Columbia Law School. While at Columbia, Raymond worked at the Center for Public Research and Leadership as a graduate assistant, providing consulting and strategic advice to educational institutions and organizations.  Raymond was also a staff editor for the Columbia Journal of Race and Law.

Prior to his legal career, Raymond was a Teach for America corps member and taught middle school in New York City.

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