As expected more masking mandates have come about from New York Governor Kathy Hochul. According to Hochul's office, various mask requirements which are meant to keep people safe from the very contagious Delta variant of COVID-19 have been issued statewide.

These masking mandates affect:

  • New York State Office of Children and Family Services-licensed and -registered child care centers.
  • Home-based group family and family child care programs
  • After-school child care programs
  • Enrolled legally exempt group programs
  • congregate programs and facilities licensed, registered, operated, certified or approved by the Office of Mental Health
  • The Office of Addiction Services and Supports
  • The Office for People With Developmental Disabilities
  • Office of Children and Family Services
  • The Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance.
  • certified residential and day programs
  • inpatient and outpatient mental health facilities
  • substance abuse programs
  • juvenile detention programs and residential facilities
  • congregate foster care programs, runaway, and homeless youth programs
  • domestic violence and other shelter programs.

These requirements apply to anyone medically able to tolerate wearing a mask, regardless of vaccination status.

Hochul states, "With the Delta variant on the rise, requiring masks at state-regulated child care, mental health, and substance abuse facilities is a key part of our broader strategy for slowing the spread of the virus, reopening our economy safely, and protecting vulnerable members of our population."

New York already has a mask mandate in schools.

Unfortunately, since children under 12 are not able to get the vaccine yet, there has been not only an increase in COVID cases in people of all ages across the state, but especially in children under 12.

To find out more about the new mask mandates in New York State, click here.

Here are some tips for self-care during the pandemic:

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