The New York Times is reporting that the state's indoor mask mandate will be dropped on Wednesday.

It's not yet known if any action will be taken on the separate mandate for masks in schools. That mandate is set to expire in two weeks.

Dropping the indoor mask mandate means putting an end to requiring customers to prove that they're either vaccinated or wear a mask, according to the Times - which attributes this to a few people briefed on the governor's decision.

This comes as COVID cases consistently trend down across the Hudson Valley and the state.

Hudson Valley health officials say rolling back on mandates acknowledges exponential progress in fending off the deadly disease - from prevention to treatment - and basic hygiene education.

After two years of strict mandates, infectious disease doctors agree that the benefits outweigh the risks in ending indoor mask requirements, especially now that they say COVID cases no longer pose an emergency.

"If the risk is much less and the benefit is much less, then why have a mandate? Encourage COVID appropriate behavior, let people make their choices, that's what this country is all about," says Dr. Harish Moorjani, of Phelps Hospital Northwell Health.

New York is not alone. The state is joining several others, like New Jersey, Connecticut and some states on the West Coast.