Mask Mandate Out As Nassau Community College Reverses Course

GARDEN CITY, NY — Just hours after announcing the implementation of a new mask mandate, Nassau Community College reversed course, saying it will not require mask-wearing on campus.

In a statement, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman said that "After strong and evidence-based discussions" with college officials, "they are withdrawing their premature decision to mandate masks."

"At this time we are monitoring the spike in COVID diagnoses and have importantly not seen a spike in hospitalizations," Blakeman said. As we have seen in the past, there is very little value in mandating masks to prevent the spread of COVID."

The college initially said it would implement a new mask mandate starting Monday due to rising COVID-19 cases in Nassau County, the Long Island Herald reported. The mandate would have applied to all campus visitors, regardless of vaccination status.

College officials revoked the mandate just hours after announcing it, according to the Herald.

Meanwhile, medical professionals disagreed with Blakeman's claims that mask-wearing holds little value.

"Wearing masks definitely prevents transmission of upper respiratory viral illnesses," Dr. Adrian Popp of Huntington Hospital told News 12.

Guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also backs up Popp. According to the CC, masks and respirators are effective at reducing transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, when worn consistently and correctly.