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Cuomo: COVID-19 restrictions lifted as 70% of adults have received first dose of vaccine

Submitted + Updated

Tue, Jun 15th 2021 03:05 pm

State's COVID-19 restrictions and ‘New York Forward’ industry guidance lifted across commercial settings, including retail, food services, offices, gyms & fitness centers, amusement and family entertainment, hair salons, barber shops, personal care services, among others

√ Unvaccinated individuals responsible for continuing to wear a mask, per federal CDC guidance

√ Large-scale indoor events venues, pre-K to 12 schools, public transit, homeless shelters, correctional facilities, nursing homes and health care settings must still adhere to existing COVID-19 health protocols per CDC guidelines

Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday announced COVID-19 restrictions are lifted immediately as 70% of New Yorkers aged 18 or older have received the first dose of their COVID-19 vaccination series. The state's health guidance and “New York Forward” industry-specific guidelines – including social gathering limits, capacity restrictions, social distancing, cleaning and disinfection, health screening, and contact information for tracing – are now optional for retail, food services, offices, gyms and fitness centers, amusement and family entertainment, hair salons, barber shops and personal care services, among other commercial settings.

Unvaccinated individuals continue to be responsible for wearing masks, in accordance with federal CDC guidance. Consistent with the state's implementation of the recent CDC guidance, masks are still required for unvaccinated individuals. Further, the state's health guidelines continue to be in effect for large-scale indoor event venues, pre-K to grade 12 schools, public transit, homeless shelters, correctional facilities, nursing homes, and health care settings per CDC guidelines.

"What New York has done is extraordinary. Not only do we have the lowest COVID positivity rate in the United States of America, we have hit 70% vaccination ahead of schedule. We successfully deployed the weapon that will win the war, and New York led the nation," Cuomo said. "We led with nurse Sandra Lindsay, who was the first at Northwell to take that vaccine and to assure people it was safe. We've gone on to do more than 20 million vaccines, more per capita than any big state in the United States of America. Congratulations to New Yorkers because they are the ones who did it. We're no longer just surviving – we're thriving. The state mandates that have proven right and brought us through this pandemic are relaxed as of today, effective immediately."

White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator Jeffrey D. Zients said, "In communities across New York, the deadly coronavirus is in retreat thanks to the state's progress on vaccinations. New York went from being one of the hardest-hit states in the country to being one of the leading states in its effort to combat the virus because of a vaccination program that made it easy and convenient for New Yorkers to get vaccinated, state and community leaders who worked hard at the local level, and millions of New Yorkers who rolled up their sleeves to get vaccinated."

The state's COVID-19 restrictions remain in effect for large-scale indoor event venues – now defined as indoor venues that hold more than 5,000 attendees. Consistent with the state's implementation of the CDC guidelines, proof of vaccination can be used to eliminate social distancing and remove masks for fully vaccinated individuals. Unvaccinated or unknown vaccination status individuals who are over the age of 4 must continue to present proof of a recent negative diagnostic COVID-19 test result and wear masks within the venue. However, social distancing can be reduced or eliminated between tested attendees, allowing venues to reach 100% capacity in all sections.

As of Tuesday, more than 70% of adult New Yorkers have received at least the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and the rate of new COVID-19 cases has plummeted to the lowest levels in the nation. Given New York's progress and the diminished risk of COVID-19 within the community, the state is lifting COVID-19 restrictions effective immediately, except for the mask requirement for unvaccinated individuals and in certain settings (e.g., large-scale indoor event venues, pre-K to grade 12 schools, public transit, homeless shelters, correctional facilities, nursing homes and health care settings per CDC guidance). While “New York Forward” industry reopening guidance is no longer mandatory for most industries, these documents will be archived and made available as a public reference.

With the removal of the state's minimum standard for reopening, businesses are free to choose to lift all or some restrictions, continue to adhere to the state's archived guidance, or implement other health precautions for their employees and patrons. Businesses are also authorized to require masks and 6 feet of social distancing for employees and patrons within their establishments, regardless of vaccination status. Any mask requirements that businesses choose to implement must adhere to applicable federal and state laws and regulations, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Western New York

Cuomo’s office reported Western New York’s seven-day average percentage of positive coronavirus test results was 0.35% on Monday – which is down from the statewide rate of 0.40%.

On Friday, the state-run drive-through test site at Niagara County Community College will close. The site has been operational since the end of April 2020.

Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt said, “Like all New Yorkers, I welcome today’s news that most remaining COVID restrictions will be lifted. I want to thank the thousands of frontline workers, health care professionals and countless others who helped us through this crisis and led us to this point. I would also like to recognize the many small businesses who fought to make it out of this pandemic and provided paychecks to millions of New York families during this difficult time.

“Instead of taxpayer-funded firework shows celebrating his own lack of leadership, the governor should mark this occasion by ending the state of emergency and reinstating the Legislature as a co-equal branch of government. Only then can we fully repeal unnecessary restrictions like masks mandates for school children.”

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