Effective Monday, December 13, 2021, businesses with any indoor space that is not a private residence in New York State  (which includes office spaces) must require that all employees and patrons two years and older, regardless of vaccination status, wear a mask at all times while indoors if they are not requiring proof of vaccination upon entry to the premises. (Also see our previous alert, New York State’s New Mask Mandate: What Employers Need to Know).   Violations of this mandate may lead to civil penalties, including fines of up to $1,000 for each violation.  

This measure is effective until January 15, 2022, at which time New York State will re-evaluate the need for the mandate. 

Even when not required by the new mandate, New York State and New York State’s Department of Health continue to strongly recommend masks in all public indoor settings as an added layer of protection.