February 11, 2023 – Face masks will not be required in hospitals and other health care facilities in New York state, no matter an individual’s COVID-19 vaccination status, the state Department of Health announced. announced Friday.
The mask requirement expires Sunday. Healthcare facilities can create their very own mask rules based on CDC guidelines that take note of local case numbers, COVID transmission rates and the number of obtainable hospital beds.
“The pandemic is not over, but we are in a transition phase,” Dr. James McDonald, the state's acting health officer, said in an announcement, noting that the primary COVID cases within the state were identified about three years ago.
Some health systems are sticking to the mask requirement for now.
Masks will proceed to be required in New York City's public hospital system. The New York Times reported. St. Peters Health Partners, which has five care facilities within the Albany area, will proceed to require staff and patients to wear masks so long as transmission rates remain high within the region, the hospital group said in a statement.
The Greater NY Hospital Association agrees with the change.
“New York's hospitals are well prepared to use their extensive expertise and experience to make decisions about mask wearing that are in the best safety interests of their patients and staff,” association spokesman Brian Conway said, in keeping with the New York Times. “And they will make those decisions daily based on a variety of factors, including community transmission rates.”
The CDC lifted its mask requirement for healthcare facilities last fall.
On Monday, New York City Mayor Eric Adams lifted the vaccination requirement for city employees. Adams said “this is the right time to make this decision” since 96% of city employees and 80% of New Yorkers have been vaccinated, The Times reported.