“I want to start out by thanking Governor Andrew Cuomo for approving our request for a mask mandate in Westchester County’s school districts. Throughout the pandemic, we have experienced first-hand just how much mask wearing, when coupled with social distancing, can help curtail the spread of COVID-19. The County consulted with school superintendents across Westchester, and received solid support for this proposal. All public, private, parochial and charter school students, along with their educators and staff, will now be required to wear a mask at all times, with the exception of during designated breaks, when eating, during heavy physical exertion, or when a teacher allows them to be taken off. The safety of our children is always our highest priority, and the safety of the adults who are with our children is also our priority. While we may not have reached the peak numbers we are seeing in neighboring counties, our numbers in Westchester are still on the rise, and this mandate is essential to keeping the people of our County safe.”
George Latimer, Westchester County Executive