Adams to lift school mask mandate, vaccine requirement for indoor venues

NEW YORK — Mayor Eric Adams will remove the mask mandate for public schools and waive the proof of vaccination requirement for restaurants and entertainment venues starting Monday, saying the city is finally moving past Covid-19 restrictions that have hampered its economy since the pandemic started two years ago.

"This is clearly an Arnold Schwarzenegger moment, 'We'll be back,'" Adams said at the Times Square press conference Friday morning.

The mayor cited a low coronavirus case rate of 1.8 percent alongside a high vaccination rate. Covid case levels are even lower in schools than among the general population.

"It’s time to get the city open," Adams said.

“Folks can come in and enjoy the restaurants, the businesses and be a part of this great city without having to show proof of vaccination," he added about his decision to suspend the requirement known as Key to NYC that former Mayor Bill de Blasio implemented last year.

Individual businesses still have the option of requiring proof of vaccination from customers.

Public schools that serve students from kindergarten through 12th grade will no longer require students, teachers and staff to mask up indoors.

"We want to see the faces of our children," Adams said.

Students under five who are not yet eligible to receive a coronavirus vaccine are still required to wear masks.

Speaking ahead of the mayor, outgoing city Health Commissioner Dave Chokshi announced a new color-coded Covid alert system that will keep residents up to date on risk levels. There are four levels, and the city is currently at green or "low" risk for Covid transmission. Red or "very high" was the level in the spring of 2020 when thousands of New Yorkers were dying from the virus.

“It will also hold us accountable by laying out proactive actions we will take at each level," Chokshi said.

Adams added, “We are far from out of the woods, Covid is still here, but we are beating it back."