Cuomo: New Mask Guidance on May 19 – New Reopenings

Cuomo: New Mask Guidance on May 19: Governor Andrew Cuomo announced yesterday that New York State will adopt the CDC’s new guidance on mask use and social distancing for fully vaccinated individuals. That means: “If you are vaccinated, you are safe, no masks, no social distancing,” he said. However, even full vaccinated New Yorkers will still have to wear a mask on public transportation in the subways, buses, nursing homes, homeless shelters, correctional facilities, schools, and health care facilities. Further CDC guidance continues to require immuno-compromised and unvaccinated people to mask up and social distance.

This week’s COVID Stats: 61.8 percent of adult New Yorkers have completed at least one vaccine dose with 52.2% of adult New Yorkers completing their vaccine series. And over 50% of all New Yorkers have had at least one dose of the vaccine – more than ten million people. Meanwhile the statewide positivity rate plummeted to 1.07% last week.

More Reopening News: Starting May 22, the New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets will have fully vaccinated fan sections. This will increase capacity at their 2021 NBA home playoff games at Madison Square Garden and Barclays Center. Individuals seated in the vaccinated sections will have to show proof of full COVID-19 immunization status, which can be provided through paper form (CDC card), digital application or the State’s Excelsior Pass.