Governor to Lift Most Restrictions Once NYS Meets 70 Percent Vaccination Threshold

Situation Report | June 14, 2021

On June 7, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced that most of the remaining COVID-19 restrictions will be lifted once 70 percent of New Yorkers aged 18 or older have received the first dose of their COVID-19 vaccination series.

Industry-specific guidelines — including capacity restrictions, social distancing, cleaning and disinfection, health screening, and contact information for tracing — will become optional for retail, food services, offices, gyms and fitness centers, amusement and family entertainment, hair salons, and barber shops, among other commercial settings.

However, large-scale event venues, pre-K to 12 schools, public transit, homeless shelters, correctional facilities, nursing homes, and health care settings must continue to follow the state’s guidelines until more New Yorkers are vaccinated. In those settings, New York State’s existing COVID-19 health protocols will remain in effect.

Unvaccinated individuals will still be responsible for maintaining proper social distancing of six feet and wearing a mask as per federal guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Consistent with the state’s implementation of the recent CDC guidance, masks will still be required for unvaccinated individuals.