Starting today, anyone who’s fully vaccinated against COVID can mostly skip the mask.
At a press conference Monday, Governor Andrew Cuomo said New York State will be adopting new federal guidance on masks and social distancing.
“If you are vaccinated, you are safe,” he said.
“No masks, no social distancing.”
There are, however, exceptions; mask-free only applies to those who are fully vaccinated and masks will still be required of everyone in schools, nursing homes, public transportation, and health care facilities, he said.
“But for our part, we’re adopting the CDC guidelines and we’re saying ‘Let’s open.’”
Individual businesses can still require masks; Wal-Mart has already said they won’t.
The full CDC guidelines are on the state website.
Statewide COVID positivity Monday was 1.26 percent.
In Schoharie County, there has been a total of 1,667 COVID cases, four of them new Monday.
Also Monday, Governor Cuomo released updated guidelines for county fairs and local festivals.
State Department of Health approval will be required for events with more than 5,000 expected attendees.
Fairs and festivals will be allowed to open, but must limit attendance so that six feet of social distancing can be maintained between individuals who are not members of the same party unless all attendees provide proof of vaccination status.
Fairs and festivals may require masks for all attendees; masks are still required indoors for unvaccinated attendees or when vaccination status is unknown.
“Fairs and festivals are huge economic generators for communities across the state,” Governor Cuomo said.
“Last year, they were put on hold due to COVID…This new guidance will allow [them] to open at the greatest capacity possible so they can remain economically viable while still ensuring public health and safety.”
In addition to capacity limits, Governor Cuomo said fairs and festivals “should consider the following”: attendee contact information, health screening, hand hygiene, cleaning and disinfection, and signage.