No COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement? All NYS Employees & Visitors Must Wear a Mask Indoors Starting December 13, 2021

From the NYS Department of Health FAQs on the December 13, 2021 – January 15. 2022 Statewide Indoor Mask Mandate Published Over The Weekend:

If the office does not require proof of vaccination as a condition of entry, everyone must wear masks at all times regardless of vaccination status except when eating, drinking, or alone in an enclosed room.

Additional guidance, including but not limited to resurrected masking requirements for business venues where eating and drinking is part of their business, can be found in the FAQs from the NYS Department of Health at this link:

https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/node/13521

January 15, 2022 is a tentative end-date to be reviewed based on the COVID-19 infection rate at that time.

Businesses and workplaces have already resurrected their mask-mandate communications since the announcement last Friday, December 10, 2021, including but not limited to Hone Coworks, where I relocated my office in August 2020 well before the advent of the COVID-19 vaccine (I continue to appreciate their safety protocols, including but not limited to their updated HVAC system):

Governor Hochul reiterated that each incident of an unvaccinated employee or visitor without a mask will cost the employer and the employee $1,000.00 each in penalties as announced earlier this year. Clearly, the honor system is no longer a viable option.

Take care and be well.