Starting today, kids attending public school K-12 can drop the face masks while inside their classroom. School officials say this doesn't mean schools will ease up on other safety protocols. The Department of Education says it plans to keep the daily screeners to make sure anyone with symptoms does not come back to school and will continue to distribute test kits. Face masks will continue to be required for kids under the age of five, who aren't eligible for the vaccine. This will affect some Pre-K classes, all 3-K classes and many day care and kids' programs that are overseen by the health department.
Meanwhile, indoor businesses, like restaurants, gyms and theaters, are no longer required to ask customers for proof of a vaccine. If business owners want to, the city says to go right ahead. Some mandates will stay in place, like the vaccine requirement for city workers.
United Federation of Teachers President Michael Mulgrew says they've had hundreds of meetings where they looked at the data and spoke with doctors. Event then, some of the teachers at PS 184 say they expect many of the kids to continue wearing the mask.
Schools Chancellor David Banks largely credited the safety measures they've had in place. He also said cases are down 99% and they haven't had a single school close since January.