New York officials will not ease the state's mask rules for vaccinated people just yet as Gov. Andrew Cuomo pledged a review of the recommendations made earlier on Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
No timeline was given for when the review would be finalized, but Cuomo said he would turn to State Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker and other health experts in neighboring states for advice.
"In New York, we have always relied on the facts and the science to guide us throughout the worst of this pandemic and in our successful reopening," Cuomo said in a statement. "We have received the newly revised guidance from the CDC regarding mask wearing and social distancing for those with vaccinations and are reviewing them in consultation with Dr. Zucker and our partners and health experts in surrounding states."
The CDC announced earlier in the day mask wearing for people who have been fully vaccinated and have gained the two-week immunity following the second dose of the Pfizer or the Moderna vaccine can be eased. Mask wearing will remain in effect in some circumstances for all people.
New York was among the hardest hit states early in the pandemic last year, and Cuomo acknowledged a year ago he regretted not putting a mask order in effect earlier.