ALBANY, N.Y. — New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced Tuesday that state-mandated COVID restrictions have been lifted across commercial and social settings after 70% of New York adults have received one dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
"Life is about thriving," Cuomo said. "Life is about seeing people. Life is about loving. Life is about celebrating. Life is about enjoying. Life is about interacting. And now, we get back to living in life. This state, mandates that have proven right, and correct, and brought us through this pandemic are relaxed as of today, effective immediately."
Restrictions are lifted for :
- sports and recreation
- construction
- manufacturing
- trade
- child care
- camps
- food services
- office
- real estate
- buildings
- agriculture
- fishing
- forestry
- amusement and family entertainment
- personal care services
- gyms
- retail
- malls
- movie theaters
Governor Cuomo also said, effective immediately, state-mandated COVID restrictions are lifted for:
- social gatherings
- capacity restrictions
- health screening
- cleaning and disinfection protocols
- contact information for tracing
However, some safety guidelines are still in place. As per the federal CDC, mask requirements remain in effect for pre-k -12 schools, public transit and health care settings.
"The CDC federal mandates obviously continue for pre-K schools, and public transit and health care settings, but the state mandates have been lifted," said Cuomo.
The governor also announced there would be fireworks across the state Tuesday evening to celebrate New York's reopening and to thank essential workers. Fireworks will be held in Niagara Falls for the Western New York region. The Falls will also be lit in blue and gold to mark the milestone.
"472 days ago, it was impossible to fathom that 70 percent of New York's adults would have received their first COVID vaccination by this point. What felt years away has been accomplished in less than one," Governor Cuomo said. "As we celebrate lifting restrictions and resuming our reimagined normal, we also reflect on the hard work of New York State's essential workers and we remember those we lost. New Yorkers have always been tough, but this last year has proven just how tough they are. Congratulations, New Yorkers, on all that your hard work has accomplished."
"All the state-mandated restrictions are lifted on commercial, social settings, sports and recreation, construction, manufacturing, retail, buildings, all across the board we can get back to living and businesses can open because the state mandates are gone," the Governor said.
The governor did not take questions at Tuesday's event.