On Feb. 12, New York will allow its state mask mandate for hospitals and healthcare facilities to lapse, Spectrum News reports. Although the state will not enforce this, individual facilities can still choose to do so.
The state's acting health commissioner, James McDonald, MD, told Politico the decision comes as a result of decreasing COVID-19 cases statewide and is indicative of a "period of transition" in the pandemic.
New York ended its state of emergency declaration for COVID-19 back in September, but had extended the requirements for masking in health facilities until now.
Becker's reached out to the New York State Health Department for additional comment on how this policy may be reassessed in time if another surge occurs. We have yet to receive a reply.