On January 28^th, Governor Hochul announced that the indoor mask or vaccine mandate will be extended through Feb. 10^th. The mandate was set to expire on January 31^st. The Governor announced that the mandate will be extended in two week increments and the State will review COVID positivity rates, hospitalizations, hospital capacity, and vaccination rates to determine when the mask or vaccine mandate will be lifted.

Businesses that elect to implement a vaccine mandate must see proof of full vaccination (meaning 14 days after the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine or 14 days after the second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine). Acceptable proof of vaccination includes New York’s Excelsior Pass, SMART Health Cards, or a CDC Vaccination Card. The New York State Dept. of Health’s order defines all indoor public places as any indoor space that is not a private residence. Businesses that do not comply with this requirement will be subject to a maximum fine of $1,000 for each violation.

For more information, visit the state’s frequently asked questions website.