Mask Mandate issued in Nassau: will GOP and Blakeman comply?

                                             Nassau Mask Memo                   

From: HRAnnouncements <HRAnnouncements@nassaucountyny.gov>
Sent: Friday, December 10, 2021 5:30 PM
To: All Nassau County Employees <allnascntyemployees@nassaucountyny.gov>
Subject: NYS Face Covering/Mask Mandate Effective Monday, 12/13

 

To All County Employees:

 

The New York State Department of Health has issued a determination that, effective Monday, December 13, 2021, and due to the increasing number of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations statewide, and in alignment with CDC recommendations, that all persons over the age of two and able to medically tolerate a face covering/mask, regardless of vaccination status, shall wear an appropriate face covering/mask while in any indoor public place.

 

Accordingly, ALL County employees and visitors MUST wear a mask in County buildings, regardless of vaccination status, starting Monday, December 13, 2021 through Saturday, January 15, 2022.

 

The Office of Human Resources will provide an update as additional information becomes available.   

 

Thank you.

 

 


Well,  Nassau County Executive Laura Curran's administration has thrown down the gauntlet, ordering all county employees to wear masks in county buildings through Jan. 15 -- 15 days after Democrat Curran leaves office.

Curious if Curran has that authority.

Curran's mandate falls in line with Gov. Kathy Hochul's order.

Hochul, the nearly unknown Buffalo Democrat who was boosted in the governor's office when Andrew Cuomo resigned, issued an indoor mask mandate from Dec. 13 through Jan. 15 for every business and public building that doesn't include vaccination checks -- though it's not clear whether she has that legal authority. (Hochul apparently had the State Department of Health issue the emergency regulation, which avoids the need for the governor to get legislative approval.)

Will Nassau Republican lawmakers, who have a legislative meeting this afternoon, comply?

And what happens when Republican Bruce Blakeman takes office on Jan. 1? During his campaign,  he complained that Curran had not issued an executive order forbidding mask mandates in schools.

ABC News  this morning said Blakeman is among New York county officials who have said they will not enforce the mask mandate.

"But some Republican county executives in the state say they aren't going to enforce it, including in Dutchess and Rockland counties, as well as incoming Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman," the story said.

But Blakeman has not been that definitive:

Here is his statement, which is also posted on his Facebook page:

"Over 97% of Nassau County adults have been vaccinated with at least their first dose and our outstanding health care facilities are not even close to capacity. While we continue to monitor this health care concern it is clear that Nassau County is not in crisis and State government should not paint us with the same broad brush as the rest of the State. I’m hopeful that the State will allow local determination rather than a shotgun approach."

                                                                             

Bruce Blakeman


 

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