New York (CNN)New York City is dropping mask requirements for K-12 schools and lifting proof of vaccination mandates for restaurants and theaters starting next week, Mayor Eric Adams announced Friday.
New York joins cities and states across the country in relaxing Covid-19 rules after health officials released new guidelines and hospitalizations fell. The NFL also said it is dropping protocols.
Adams made his announcements at a Times Square news conference, urging people to “come in and enjoy the restaurants, enjoy the shops and be a part of this great city without having to show proof of vaccinations.”
In schools, he said, parents are still allowed to mask their children.
“I know that some who say they still want their children to wear their masks can do that,” he said. “We will not stand in the way of your discretion.”
Noting how safe public schools are, Adams said NYC schools had a 0.18% Covid-19 positivity rate as of this week.
Nevertheless, children under the age of 5 must continue to wear masks.
“We have to follow the science,” Adams said. “Science says this age group is unvaccinated and has some of the highest hospitalization rates among children. So we have to save our children.”
The mayor’s moves come after Gov. Kathy Hochul announced earlier this week, citing a sharp drop in Covid-19 hospitalizations across the state, that New York would no longer require students to wear masks in schools starting Wednesday.
Individual counties and cities with higher transmission rates may continue to require masks in schools, and parents and guardians may still choose to send children to schools wearing masks, Hochul said.
Changes are being made nationwide
Most Americans live in areas where healthy people are not required to wear masks indoors, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently said. That was a sweeping change, and other cities and states have recently made similar changes.
- California, Oregon and Washington state will move from mask requirements to recommendations in schools.
- California is dropping its requirement that unvaccinated people wear masks in most indoor spaces.
- Los Angeles County will no longer require masks in schools.
- Illinois lifted its mask mandate for restaurants, bars, gyms and shops. And Chicago ended its vaccination record requirements.
- A statewide mask mandate for K-12 schools ends Monday in Massachusetts. A similar mandate in Connecticut also ends Monday.
The National Football League (NFL) and NFL Players Association (NFLPA) also agreed to suspend all Covid-19 protocols effective immediately, according to a league-wide memo sent out Thursday.
Mayor praises vaccinations
In a statement, Adams said the reason New York City is back is because of vaccinations.
“Two years ago, New York City was the epicenter of the pandemic, but thanks to vaccinating and empowering New Yorkers, we’ve made tremendous progress,” Adams said. “The fight may not be over yet, but we are clearly winning the war. We are open for business and New York City has its groove back.”
Restaurants, theaters and other indoor venues no longer need to ask their guests for vaccination records.
“New York City’s restaurant and nightlife industry has been devastated by Covid-19, and for the past two years these small businesses have endured ever-changing pandemic mandates that have presented significant challenges to their operations,” said Andrew Rigie, Executive Director, NYC Hospitality Alliance. “We must continue to act safely and wisely and change mandates as the situation evolves.”
CNN’s Holly Yan contributed to this report.
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