Hochul said the decision was based the on state's weekly seven-day case rate and increasing hospitalizations. The state will revaluate the mask mandate that will apply to both patrons and staff and will be in effect from Dec. 13 to Jan. 15.
"As governor, my two top priorities are to protect the health of New Yorkers and to protect the health of our economy," Hochul said in a news release. "The temporary measures I am taking today will help accomplish this through the holiday season."
New York has recorded more than 68,000 positive tests for the virus in the seven-day period that ended Dec. 8. According to the Associated Press, the cases count is the most in any seven-day stretch since the start of February.
