11.23.21 COVID-19 Bulletin: Erie DOH Releases Details on New Mask Mandates
Blog Categories
November 23, 2021
Erie County Health Commissioner Gale Burstein just released a detailed order with new pandemic protocols, clarifying the County Executive’s announcement yesterday.
Anyone over two (2) must wear a mask in all indoor public settings, regardless of their vaccination status. Any indoor employees must wear a mask when interacting with patrons. Anyone using public transit or other for-hire vehicles must wear a mask.
The most notable detail: businesses that mandate proof of vaccination for entry do not have to force patrons to mask. So, businesses can be exempt from the mask mandate if they choose to mandate vaccination.
Yesterday, County Executive Poloncarz pledged to mandate vaccination for entry into public places if the mask mandate fails to improve case and hospitalization numbers.
The BNP will continue to keep you informed as this situation unfolds.
The full text of the ECDOH order can be found here. Poloncarz’s announcement is summarized here.
Related Posts
2022 Albany Preview: 11 Issues We’re Watching
On January 5, state legislators convened in Albany (or, on Zoom) to kick off the 2022 legislative session. All eyes are on Kathy Hochul as she navigates her first session as Governor and jockeys for position in the June gubernatorial primary race. Here are eleven issues we are watching as the session begins:
12.21.21 Advocacy Alert: What’s the Latest on Biden’s Vax/Test Mandate?
Yesterday, Governor Kathy Hochul announced she would repeal the state’s mask mandate, effective today. However, her announcement did not proactively address how the repeal coincided with the NY HERO Act, which would have required employees in most workplaces to continue masking.
12.17.21 Advocacy Alert: Canada to Again Require Testing for Entry
Today, Canadian officials announced they would be reinstating a requirement that all entrants present proof of a negative COVID-19 test.
The requirement will take effect Tuesday, according to the Buffalo News.
NY’s Tax Climate Again Ranks at National Bottom
Today, the Tax Foundation (an independent tax policy think tank) released its 2022 State Business Tax Climate Index. The report compares all fifty states on various tax policies, then ranks their overall business tax climate. New York ranked below every state except New Jersey.
NY’s rank in the State Business Tax Climate Index
The poor ranking comes as no surprise. New York has oscillated between 48-50 for over ten years. After enacting new tax increases this year, New York dropped from 48th to 49th.