I'm Brian Lerer. This is my daily politics podcast from WNYC Studios. It's Thursday, February 10th.

Because of the dramatic decline in our COVID numbers, effective Monday, March 7th. The statewide school mask mandate will be lifted.

We had a mask or vaccine requirement for businesses. It was an emergency temporary measure put in place

literally two months ago. And at this time, we say that is the right decision to lift this mandate.

Governor Kathy Hockel and Governor Phil Murphy in a tale of two states and two mask mandates

being lifted. Somewhat, there are differences between them and they are not complete. And the

Centers for Disease Control,

by the way, disagrees with both. So let's run down what's changing where, who thinks it's

based on science or just a political dodge, and what defines respect for your neighbor or

employees if we're really heading toward an endemic COVID stage. With us for this is New York Times reporter

Sharon Otterman, who covers health care and the pandemic for the paper's Metro Desk. Welcome back to

WNYC, Sharon. Thanks so much for coming on today. Thanks so much, Brian. It's great to be here.

And listeners in New York and New Jersey especially, we'll open up the phones on

this right away. New Jerseyans, how do you feel about the school mask mandate ending? New York

business owners, will you keep restrictions for your employees or customers on your own? Or are you

ready to end them? As Governor Hokel says, as of today, you may. Give us a call

at 212-433, WNYC, 212, 433-9-692. Polls seem to show Americans are ready to, quote, get back to normal,

unquote, but I see a lot of people wearing masks outside where they aren't required to or even recommended to, maybe because of a cold.

But New York City still requires vaccination proof for indoor venues like theaters, gyms, and restaurants.

Broadway is keeping its masking and vaccination requirements in place.

Keep them or time to end them, folks, at least until the new variant arises.

Is your apartment building sticking with masking?

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