"Incoming New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on Sunday stopped short of ruling out statewide vaccination requirements, saying she will be "looking at the possibility of mandates." Hochul, when asked if she was open to a statewide policy similar to New York City requiring proof of vaccination for some indoor activities, said on CNN's "State of the Union" that she was "open to all options."

"I'll be looking at [the] possibility of mandates, but not saying they're in or out, until I know all the facts," Hochul said.

It is unclear whether Hochul, the lieutenant governor who will replace Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo on Aug. 24, would have the authority to issue such a mandate. The emergency powers the State Legislature granted Cuomo in 2020 to make COVID-19-related directives have expired. That question of authority could also hamper Hochul's wish for children to wear masks in schools to stop the spread of the coronavirus, she acknowledged in a TV appearance Thursday. She said officials will leave the decision up to school districts for now while monitoring the situation, but she expects there to be school mask mandates in the future."

https://www.newsday.com/news/health/coronavirus/incoming-gov-kathy-hochul-state-vaccine-mandate-1.50335163