New York's statewide school mask mandate will be lifted on Wednesday, March 2nd. Governor Kathy Hochul made the announcement on Sunday. Children 2 years and older in childcare facilities are included. Counties and schools districts with higher positivity rates will be allowed to make their own decisions as it comes to masking. The CDC is using a new system which address transmission levels throughout the country. Based on this new system, more than 70% of the U.S. are in mid to low transmission levels. The latest state data shows New York has gone 51 straight days of with a downward trend in new COVID cases.