NEW YORK: "Governor Kathleen C. Hochul cast doubt Monday state officials will enforce her new order mandating New York businesses require patrons wear a face mask or show proof of vaccination as an increasing number of upstate counties indicate they will not ask businesses to comply, citing a lack of resources. Acting State Health Department Commissioner Dr. Mary Bassett issued a determination Friday to solidify the statewide requirement that staff and customers ages 2 and older in all New York businesses must wear face masks or show proof of vaccination against the coronavirus.

Officials in Greene, Genesee, Livingston, Orleans, Niagara, Madison, Rensselaer, Rockland and Saratoga counties, more than 10% of New York’s 62 counties, have announced they will not comply, or force businesses in their localities to satisfy the order. Several other counties say they can’t enforce the order, citing exhausted local health departments and resources as agencies race to vaccinate residents, perform COVID tests and contract tracing, necessities that aren’t letting up anytime soon. Late last week, Hochul said businesses found not complying with the mandate will be fined $1,000, but cast doubt Monday that consequences would be enforced."

https://www.nny360.com/news/publicservicenews/hochul-will-not-enforce-mask-mandate-amid-county-pushback/article_27733b28-36cd-5e1a-aa95-d85b524cb134.html