US government offers more free Covid tests as New York joins other states in lifting mask and vaccine mandates
As tests are becoming more widely-available to Americans, many cities and states have begun lifting their mask and vaccine mandates.
As mask and vaccine mandates are being lifted across the US, most recently in New York City, the Biden Administration announced it will send another round of free Covid-19 tests to Americans.
In his State of the Union address last week, President Joe Biden shared that in addition to starting a new antiviral initiative, his administration would send Americans another round of free Covid-19 tests, which can be ordered beginning Monday.
‘Even if you already ordered free tests, tonight, I am announcing that you can order more from covidtests.gov starting next week,’ Biden said.
Since Americans were able to begin ordering free tests from the Covidtests.gov website on January 18, hundreds of millions have been sent out. All the tests being distributed are FDA-authorized at-home rapid antigen tests.
As tests are becoming more widely-available to Americans, many cities and states have begun lifting their mask and vaccine mandates.
On Monday morning, children in New York City’s public schools no longer had to wear a mask while in class. For most students in the country’s largest school district it will be the first time fully showing their faces since early 2020, as many schools went virtual before then requiring masks for in-person education.
Students under the age of five, who are ineligible to receive the Covid-19 vaccine, are still required to wear masks in schools. New York’s governor Kathy Hochul also announced the state will lift the school mask mandate statewide, allowing local districts to decide whether to continue requiring masks.
Over the past few days, Maryland, Delaware and Massachusetts have also ended their mask requirements and by the end of the month such mandates will be gone in California, Oregon and New Jersey, too.
Restaurants in New York City are no longer required to ask patrons to provide their proof of vaccination in order to be served. Other indoor venues, including fitness facilities and entertainment spaces will also not be required to check for proof of vaccination before customers enter.
Businesses will still have the flexibility to require proof of vaccination or masking indoors if they choose, New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced on Friday.
‘Two years ago, New York City was the epicenter of the pandemic, but thanks to New Yorkers getting vaccinated and getting boosted we have made tremendous progress,’ Adams said.
As long as the numbers continue on a downward trend, Adams says New York will remain ‘open for business.’
‘I’ve said time and time again that the numbers and science will guide us as we continue to recover and rebuild, and now New York City is back and vaccinations are why we’re back,’ he added.
New Yorkers will still be required to wear masks on public transportation, at Broadway shows and in businesses that have decided to keep the mandate.
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