Mask mandates should continue in schools, state panel says
State health panel OKs keeping school mask mandate
Middle and high school students return to class on the first day of school in the Jericho district on Aug. 26. Credit: Newsday/Alejandra Villa Loarca
The state Department of Health’s Public Health and Health Planning Council approved readopting the emergency regulation on face coverings. Although their recommendation does not set policy, the governor previously did follow the panel's advice on the issue.
The initial emergency regulation, approved by the same panel in July and authorized by the state Commissioner of Health in August, was set to expire Nov. 24.
The panel on Thursday "unanimously approved masking in health care settings, adult care facilities regulated by the department, school settings, correctional facilities and detention centers, homeless shelters, public transportation conveyances and transportation hubs."
Health officials noted that COVID-19 cases statewide have risen tenfold since late June.
Meanwhile, Gov. Kathy Hochul threatened to reimpose other restrictions to control the virus if the state's positivity rate continues to rise.
Speaking earlier this week in Western New York, a region with some of the state's highest rates, Hochul said the ways to avoid restrictions include vaccinations and booster shots.
"At some point, if the numbers don't start on a downward trend, we're going to have to talk about larger protocols, which we all know are available to us," she said. "So this is the warning."
Read more about the governor's remarks in this story from Newsday's Matthew Chayes.
How to handle the holidays: With Thanksgiving approaching, Newsday connected readers to local doctors who provided tips on how to celebrate safely whether you're vaccinated or not during a recent Newsday Live discussion. Watch the replay.
Plus: Our guide has more resources to help you navigate the holidays, whether you're planning to travel, host a gathering or attend one, including what to know about at-home tests and booster shots.
The chart below shows Long Island's seven-day average COVID-19 positivity rate has been climbing again.
This chart shows what percentage of coronavirus tests were positive for the virus on average each day over a seven-day period.
Search a map of new cases and view charts showing the latest local trends in vaccinations, testing, hospitalizations, deaths and more.
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