Expect Masks In Schools This Fall: Mayor

NEW YORK CITY — Students and teachers in New York City should keep their masks handy – Mayor Bill de Blasio said the city is currently planning to require face coverings at its schools in the fall.

"For now, assume we're wearing masks," de Blasio said. "But that could change as we get closer."

The mayor said in a press conference on Friday that the city has taken a cautious approach to mask-wearing in schools – and will continue to do so even when nationwide standards change.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently updated its guidance to say fully vaccinated students do not need to wear a mask unless they are on a school bus or their school decides otherwise.

Despite that recommendation, Dr. Dave A. Chokshi, the city's health commissioner, said that his department still recommends requiring masking in schools for both unvaccinated and vaccinated individuals.

"This has been a key part of our layered approach, which has kept schools safe and has made the transmission of COVID almost minimal in school environment," Chokshi said.

"And so, that is the current recommendation. We will continue to evaluate this as we get more and more evidence about what is most effective in the school setting."

The mayor said that he is "absolutely confident" that New York City schools will open for in-person learning in September.