New York’s COVID surge is back — and so is its mask mandate

By KAREN MATTHEWS, MARINA VILLENEUVE and MICHAEL HILL
Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — Facing a cold-weather surge in COVID-19 infections, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul says that masks will be required in all indoor public places unless the businesses or venues implement a vaccine requirement. Hochul said Friday the decision to impose a mask mandate was based on state’s weekly seven-day case rate, as well as increasing hospitalizations. The mask mandate applies to both patrons and staff and will be in effect from Dec. 13 to Jan. 15, after which the state will reevaluate. Local health departments will be in charge of enforcing the requirements. Several states already have mask mandates, including New Mexico, Nevada and Hawaii.