1.28.22 COVID-19 Bulletin: Hochul Extends Mask Mandate
Blog Categories
January 28, 2022
Today, Gov. Kathy Hochul extended the state’s mask mandate for indoor public places through February 10th. The mandate was previously set to expire on Tuesday.
The move comes after a confusing week of litigation. After a state court ruled the mandate unconstitutional, the Hochul administration immediately appealed. Another court then temporarily allowed the rule to remain in place.
Hochul announced the extension during a press conference this afternoon, viewable here (discussed at the 32:30 mark).
For organizations in Erie County, the county’s mask mandate would remain in effect even if the state’s was lifted. The county’s mandate does not have an expiration date, but County Executive Poloncarz indicated this week that the mandate may be lifted in February if COVID continues to slow in the region.
The BNP recently hosted a webinar to help you implement the state mandate, available here.
We will keep you informed of any changes to state or county mandates.
Related Posts
9.28.21 Advocacy Alert: NYS To Raise Minimum Wage
The New York State Department of Labor announced a forthcoming increase in the minimum wage across upstate New York.
On December 31, the minimum wage in our region will rise to $13.20 per hour, a 70-cent increase from the current rate.
9/24/21 Webisode: Navigating the New Federal Vaccine Mandate for Employers
President Joe Biden recently announced a new mandate requiring all employers with 100 or more employees to ensure their workforce is fully vaccinated or require weekly testing of unvaccinated workers.
9.20.21 Advocacy Alert: Border Closure Extended Through October
This morning, the U.S. federal government announced that it will be extending its closure to Canadian travelers through October 21.
Non-essential Canadian travelers have been banned from entering the U.S. since March 2020. Despite calls from the BNP, numerous members of Congress, and chambers across the nation to open the border, the Biden administration has not relented in its approach – even after Canada opened its doors to American travelers in August.
9.9.21 COVID-19 Bulletin: Biden To Mandate “Vax or Test” Requirement for Large Employers
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.