Top Republicans in the New York state Senate and Assembly on Wednesday urged the end of the mask requirement for kids in schools as most of New York's COVID-19 pandemic restrictions are lifted. 

"The governor still has his unilateral power, but failed to lift mask mandates for school children," said Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay and Senate Minority Leader Robert Ortt in a joint statement. "The Senate and Assembly Republican Conferences have repeatedly called on the governor to loosen the mask restrictions in our schools, particularly in light of recent high summer temperatures. Parents throughout New York State have asked for this decision to be left to local school districts, but these requests have fallen on deaf ears in Albany."

Cuomo on Tuesday announced most pandemic restrictions on businesses would end. But guidelines for some spaces, including schools, prisons, mass transit and hospitals, will remain in place. After several days of mixed signals from the state Department of Health and the State Education Department, Cuomo announced last week that outdoor mask wearing could be optional for some school districts. 

New York's COVID-19 guidelines for mask wearing inside schools, where most children are likely yet to be vaccinated, has been in line with the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The school year in most areas of New York is set to conclude in the coming days. 

"The CDC thinks that is not advisable. That was posed in the question," Cuomo said at a news conference last week. "We asked them what do you think in the case of New York? Remember the CDC is setting a policy for the entire nation. So you have New York on one end, one of the lowest positivity. And then you have states that have like four or five times our positivity. They have to cover both."

He added, "They make a good case on the inside and the potential hazards on the inside." 

But Republicans in the Legislature want Cuomo to act or have state lawmakers return and approve the change. 

"We have two options: The governor can heed the concerns of parents and school officials and leave this decision to local school districts and health officials, or the state legislature should immediately reconvene to repeal these unnecessary restrictions on school children," the lawmakers said.