New York state will still require masks on public transportation despite the ruling of a federal judge on Monday.
During a news conference on Wednesday, Gov. Kathy Hochul said because of omicron subvariants and rising cases in the state, it is necessary to maintain a mask mandate for buses and bus stations, trains and train stations, subways and subway stations and airports.
Masks will also be required in the following locations:
- State-regulated health care settings
- State-regulated adult care facilities and nursing homes
- Correctional facilities
- Homeless shelters
- Domestic violence shelters
According to Hochul, cases of COVID-19 are on the rise with an average of 40 cases per 100,000 people. She says there are around 1,400 people currently hospitalized with the virus across the state.
Despite the increase, the governor says the current cases are nowhere near where they were in January and she does not expect the current spike to reach that level.