ALBANY – Governor Kathy Hochul, Monday, announced that she is making $65 million available to counties across the state to help with the costs associated with administering vaccines and boosters and enforcing the mask-or-vaccine mandate for indoor public places that went into effect statewide last week.
Several area counties said they would not enforce the mandate because they don’t have the money to fund it.
“Getting vaccinated and wearing a mask are the surest ways to fight COVID and stay safe, and this funding will help counties across the state enforce the reasonable, responsible and effective mask-or-vax mandate in place until mid-January,” the governor said. “The state is taking extensive measures to fight this pandemic and giving New Yorkers the tools everyone needs to stay safe. Instead of spreading COVID, let’s spread holiday cheer and do it safely by getting vaccinated and wearing masks indoors in public spaces.”
Up to $1 million will be available for most counties, with larger counties eligible to receive up to $2 million.
Hochul said while it is the state’s expectation that New Yorkers will understand the importance of following the new requirements during the winter surge and as we enter this holiday season, enforcement will be done by the local health departments. The new funds will apply to expenses incurred by counties and local health departments from when the “mask-or-vaccine” mandate was announced on December 10 until its expiration on January 15, 2022, and will be provided on a reimbursement basis through an application to the Department of Health.
Eligible expenses include staffing and venue-specific costs for any sites offering vaccines, boosters, and/or tests; personnel costs associated with mask, test, and vaccine/booster distribution; personnel costs associated with mask protocol enforcement; and public awareness efforts for the mask-or-vaccine protocol.
