Vaccinated New Yorkers No Longer Have to Wear Masks

Vaccinated New Yorkers are back, maskless, at 100% capacity. Governor Cuomo went live from Radio City Music hall for a press conference and Twitter announcement to outline the specifics.

“Effective this Wednesday, we’re going to adopt the CDC guidelines and regulations on masks and social distance,” Cuomo said. “If you are vaccinated, you are safe. No masks, no social distancing.”

Effective Wednesday, NYS will adopt the CDC's new mask & social distancing guidance for vaccinated people.

Unvaccinated people should continue to wear a mask.

Masks will still be required on public transit, in schools & some communal settings. Private venues may require masks.

— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) May 17, 2021

The new guidelines said you still need to wear a mask on public transportation, on the subways, buses, healthcare facilities, and schools, in nursing homes, homeless shelters, and correctional facilities. Private businesses will still be able to set their own restrictions like no mask, no entry.

“Individual private venues have the ability to add additional guidelines to the state and CDC,” Cuomo said. “For our part, we’re adopting the CDC and saying ‘lets open.'”

Many chains, from Starbucks to CVS, are already welcoming the maskless vaccinated with open arms. The outdoor food and beverage curfew is gone, while the indoor will remain until May 31st.

“Over half the population is fully vaccinated now, but we have more work to do on vaccinations,” Cuomo said. “We have to get back to life, and living, and do it the way New Yorkers do it. We have to do it quickly and robustly.”

17.6 million doses of vaccine have been doled out to New Yorkers. 52.2% of the population over 18 are fully vaccinated, and 61.8% of the over 18 crowds have at least one shot in the arm. The average number of deaths a day from covid is below 20, dropping to just 11 on Monday. With numbers like that, anyone with a vaccine will be free from wearing a mask from now on. Social distancing, inside or outside, is ending. The 50% caps on dining, gyms, and other indoor activities, are also going away.

To prove vaccination at the door, the state created Excelsior Pass- a free mobile app that lets users connect their vaccine to a scannable QR code. Users have to first register their vaccine on the Excelsior website and can use the app to show negative PCR test results.

Kevin Travers was a Reporter at deBanked.