New York Lifts Most Statewide COVID-19 Restrictions

On June 7, 2021, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo declared that the State would lift most remaining COVID-19 restrictions when 70% of adult New Yorkers had received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.  On June 15, 2021, Governor Cuomo held a press conference to announce that New York had reached the 70% first-dose threshold.  Accordingly, COVID-19 guidance from the State health department and the New York Forward industry-specific reopening guidelines are now entirely optional for most businesses—including retail establishments, offices, and other commercial settings.  The requirements that are now lifted include social gathering limits, capacity restrictions, social distancing, cleaning and disinfection, health screening, and contact tracing.  Governor Cuomo stated during his press conference that these guidelines are now “voluntary” and that “the mandates are gone.”  New York previously permitted employers to adopt CDC guidance that no longer requires vaccinated individuals to wear masks in most settings.

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