New York State Adopts New CDC Mask Guidance

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo has announced that New York State has adopted the CDC's updated mask guidance for fully vaccinated and non-vaccinated people.

According to the new CDC guidance, fully vaccinated people can engage in more activities than unvaccinated people, which include:

• Fully vaccinated workers no longer need to be restricted from work following an exposure as long as they are asymptomatic

• Fully vaccinated residents of non-healthcare congregate settings no longer need to quarantine following a known exposure

• Visit with other fully vaccinated people indoors without wearing masks or physical distancing

• Visit with unvaccinated people (including children) from a single household who are at low risk for severe COVID-19 disease indoors without wearing masks or physical distancing

• Participate in outdoor activities and recreation without a mask, except in certain crowded settings and venues

• Resume domestic travel and refrain from testing before or after travel or self-quarantine after travel

• Refrain from testing before leaving the United States for international travel (unless required by the destination) and refrain from self-quarantine after arriving back in the United States.

• Refrain from testing following a known exposure, if asymptomatic, with some exceptions for specific settings

• Refrain from quarantine following a known exposure if asymptomatic

• Refrain from routine screening testing if asymptomatic and feasible (in nonhealthcare settings)

This modification will be noticed to the legislature but will take effect immediately using the exigency provisions of Ch. 71 of the laws of 2021, enacted earlier this year.