New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that children across the state will have to continue to mask up in schools past the February 21 expiration date of the existing mandate.
Even as several of her Democratic counterparts in other states have begun lifting COVID restrictions in schools, Hochul spoke on a call with school superintendents who confirmed that the mask mandate will be extended in schools through the scheduled winter break which begins Feb. 21.
NEW: @news10nbc has learned that @GovKathyHochul plans to extend the mask-mandate in NY Schools through February break (it was set to expire on 2/21 which is the start of break). After break, she’ll re-evaluate.
— Jennifer Lewke (@WHEC_JLewke) February 8, 2022
Hochul is reportedly going to meet again with school officials after that time to “re-evaluate” the mandate and whether or not to lift it.
(Video: WABC)
Despite school mask mandates being eased in neighboring Connecticut and New Jersey, children in the Empire State will have to continue to wear the face coverings until further notice from the governor. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy reportedly put in place a plan to ease restrictions in his state, with mandates set to expire on March 7.
— Dan Scavino Jr.🇺🇸🦅 (@DanScavino) February 8, 2022
“The circumstances are very positive, very encouraging. She’s optimistic about the trends. But you know, we were all thrown off guard off balanced by the omicron surge, something that we did not foresee,” Robert Lowry, Deputy Director of the New York State Council of School Superintendents, told WABC. “We said, provide people with indicators that they could look at and say, you know, there’s light at the end of the tunnel.”
During a briefing last week, Hochul was pressed again for when she would order an end to the school mask mandates.
“I don’t just look at the numbers,” she said, according to WHEC. “I assess them intently, trends, as well as our vaccination rates in areas, as well as hospitalizations but before any decision is made, I’m going to continue having conversations with the heads of hospitals and continue our conversations with school superintendents that we’ve been having.”
NJ Gov Phil Murphy is reportedly going to finally lift his state’s school mask mandate although it’s ridiculous he’s going to wait a full month to actually implement the change. These blue state control freaks, including Kathy Hochul, should lift ALL COVID mandates TODAY!⬇️ pic.twitter.com/olBOvHKItM
— Lee Zeldin (@leezeldin) February 7, 2022
The updated news of school mask orders comes amid reports that Hochul will announce on Wednesday the end of the indoor mask mandate in the state. But the plan to keep young children in masks for weeks ahead set off another frustrated wave of backlash.
U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin, who represents New York’s 1st Congressional District, called out what he labeled “child abuse” in a tweet on Tuesday.
While the rest of her fellow blue state control freak Governors are announcing the end to their mask mandates, it’s now being reported that Kathy Hochul is going to EXTEND New York’s mask mandate on kids as young as TWO. This is child abuse & illegal. #UNMASKOURCHILDREN
— Lee Zeldin (@RepLeeZeldin) February 8, 2022
“New York will be the last state to drop the school mask mandate because @GovKathyHochul is clueless,” GOP gubernatorial candidate Rob Astorino tweeted. “It is unforgivable what she has done to children. Never forget it. Help me defeat her so she can never do it again.”
Many took to Twitter to lambaste the governor’s handling of masking school children.
Children are the least vulnerable to COVID-19.
Multiple Democrat Governors across the Northeast are dropping their mandates.
But Governor Hochul STILL refuses to lift mask mandates in schools.
— Rep. Elise Stefanik (@RepStefanik) February 8, 2022
Yes. Because after 2 years of the mandates failing, the obvious answer is to extend the mandates.
It’s foolish to do the same thing and expect different results.
— Elijah🎷 (@RealCallence) February 8, 2022
Apparently @GovKathyHochul knows more about this than all the reports and healthcare professionals, who say take the masks off the kids. Let’s not forget all the other states that are ending these useless mandates.
— MattyP (@ILikeBeers22) February 8, 2022
This image sums up the authoritarianism of the pandemic
The lady in the middle is the governor of New York @GovKathyHochul has just extended mask mandates for school children
Let’s mask the children to protect people
Then ‘WE’ can all smile with glee WITHOUT a mask pic.twitter.com/ydr0jCHGWl— Martin Murray🌸 (@martinpmurray) February 9, 2022
Strapping cheap paper masks to kids works great. 😐
— Schrödingers Cat (@Quantum_Cat_TX) February 8, 2022
Meanwhile, other states and countries are ending mask mandates and covid protocols. NY has botched this from the beginning pic.twitter.com/cdjTodr9dh
— Stephen Koehn (@koehn_stephen) February 8, 2022
DONATE TO BIZPAC REVIEW
Please help us! If you are fed up with letting radical big tech execs, phony fact-checkers, tyrannical liberals and a lying mainstream media have unprecedented power over your news please consider making a donation to BPR to help us fight them. Now is the time. Truth has never been more critical!
- The Florida candidate laser-focused on eradicating horrific animal crimes - March 22, 2024
- Sabo: ‘Rush was our GOAT, there was no equal and he made it look easy’ - February 18, 2024
- Dana Bash appears to want to crawl out of her own skin when Ramaswamy ‘goes there’ on J6 - December 7, 2023
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.
BPR INSIDER COMMENTS
Scroll down for non-member comments or join our insider conversations by becoming a member. We'd love to have you!
