By Dylan Harrison
As of today, New York has lifted its mask mandate for fully vaccinated people in most settings. This includes outdoors and in some stores. Private establishments can decide if they will require face coverings moving forward. Starbucks on Fifth ave says starting today it will not require a face covering if you are fully vaccinated. Exceptions to these looser mask policies are in health care settings and schools, where masks are expected to be required for the foreseeable future.
Some establishments will require you to present proof of vaccination in the form of an Epass. After you receive your second shot in the state of New York, you can register for your Excelsior pass (Epass). This pass includes a scannable QR code that can be scanned to verify your vaccination status and must be presented along with photo ID. This pass has many applications in the future, for example getting into concerts or music festivals where social distancing is not possible. To register for your Epass go to https://epass.ny.gov/home.
It is unlikely that mask policies will loosen in school for the foreseeable future. With not all students being fully vaccinated it is not possible to ensure a safe learning environment for students without the presence of masks.
However students remain hopeful about a mask free school year in the fall if the COVID-19 vaccine is required for all students, similar to how the measles and hepatitis b vaccine have been required in the past.
