Several Hudson Valley county executives and the Suffolk County executive have called on Gov. Andrew Cuomo to adhere to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's new guidance on masks.
While recent guidelines from CDC recommend allowing people who are fully vaccinated to ditch their masks both indoors and outdoors, mask-wearing rules in New York are still in effect.
Cuomo says he's still enforcing the mandate requiring New Yorkers to keep the masks on, but he is reviewing the CDC guidelines before deciding whether to change his mind.
Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus issued a joint statement with county executives from Dutchess, Putnam, Rockland, Suffolk and Ulster counties, saying in part: "As we continue to see active cases, hospitalizations and deaths steadily dropping day by day and more people receiving vaccinations, the governor should implement the CDC's common sense guidance."
The CDC still requires that masks be worn in hospitals, prisons and homeless shelters. Individual states still can decide whether to lift certain mask mandates.