New York schools enter a new phase of the pandemic

By Isabelle Lewis

March 2, 2022

New York governor, Kathy Hochul announced to the public on February 27 that the mask mandate for New York public schools will be lifted on Wednesday, March 2. This decision has sparked both joy and fear in the South Colonie school district, as it will mark the end of two years of mandatory masks in our schools.

According to Governor Hochul’s statement, Covid-19 cases have been steadily dropping in the state of New York, creating a 98% decline since late November when the Omicron variant was detected in the state.

Many students at Colonie Central High School agree with the decision to end the mandate, and more than half of the student population showed up on Wednesday without masks, excited for a new beginning for a semi-normal school year.

CCHS senior, McKenna Fitzgerald, states that she is excited for the end of the mandate “...only because it is something for people to look forward to, and the numbers show that it is okay.”

This excitement stretches to teachers and all the way down to our middle schools. Sand Creek Middle School orchestra teacher, Rachele Prawdzik, says she believes the low number of cases warrant this new phase of the pandemic we are entering. And that now is a good time to lift it, because New York allowed time to be cautious of vulnerable people’s health and safety.

Governor Hochul stated in her press conference on February 27, that “Because New Yorkers have stepped up, we can confidently remove the statewide mask requirement in our schools.”

This new phase of the pandemic in New York has a sense of excitement in CCHS students, a feeling the students say they need to get through this post-Omicron school year as they get back in the rhythm of in-person school after CCHS’s hybrid 2020-2021 school year.

Despite their excitement, students and teachers are keeping in mind that with fewer people wearing masks, there could be an increase in Covid cases in our school community.

Sand Creek Middle School Ms. Prawdzik also stated that “Based on recent trends there might be a rise in cases, but I would say people now are aware of the importance of social distancing, and prioritizing their health, mask or no mask.”

Overall, students and teachers in CCHS are excited to enter this new phase, a large step towards normalcy in our school community.