New York State’s governor, Kathy Hochul, has been questioning whether or not to alter the mask mandate in schools. In other indoor public settings such as restaurants and grocery stores, no mask will be required. According to New York State, the mask mandate will expire, but not in schools. (“Hochul said the state will revisit the question of whether to continue requiring masks in schools in the first week of March, after many children return to classrooms following planned winter breaks.”) There will be COVID-19 tests distributed to school children with the intent that they will test themselves when feeling ill. Recently, Hochul said that she would like to see vaccination rates for children increase before lifting the mandate for schools. Hopefully, Hochul’s decision will benefit society and we will finally be able to return to normalcy.