#NY state issues mask mandate for public and private schools

All students, faculty and staff will be required to wear masks in New York public and private schools, the state Department of Health announced on Friday.

“The Department has filed an emergency regulation requiring all students, faculty and staff of all public and private schools (P-12) in New York State to wear masks inside school buildings,” an agency spokesperson said in a statement.

“Public and private schools/districts across the State have been notified by the Department.”

Gov. Kathy Hochul, on Tuesday, when she was sworn into office, had said that she intended to direct the DOH to institute such a mandate.

“As Governor, my priorities are now the priorities of the people of New York – and right now that means fighting the Delta variant,” Hochul said in a statement Tuesday. 

“My number one priority is getting children back to school and protecting the environment so they can learn safely. I am immediately directing the Department of Health to institute universal masking for anyone entering our schools, and we are launching a Back to School COVID-19 testing program to make testing for students and staff widely available and convenient.

“We are also working to require vaccinations for all school personnel with an option to test out weekly, and we are going to accomplish all of this by working in partnership with all levels of government.”

Hochul also announced that $335 million in federal funding would be used to create a COVID-19 Testing in Schools Program outside of New York City.

The Big Apple — which has mandated masks in its schools since the start of the pandemic last year — has received $251 million directly to fund testing in schools.