Cover Up! New York Keeps High School Indoor Sports Mask Mandate

With the fall sports season transitioning to the winter, the days of open-air fields and stadiums have come to a close for the time being.

With the transition indoors, the transition back to wearing masks follows, according to the state of New York.

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New York State Requiring Masks at High School Indoor Sporting Events

In conjunction with New York state's most recent mandate, which require masks indoors at such places as schools, the New York State Public High School Athletic Association has upheld its mask regulations at indoor sporting events from a season ago.

The regulations will also be enforced at this weekend's New York state high school football championships, which will be held on Friday and Saturday at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, NY.

NYSPHSAA Gives Further Details on Regulations

In a report filed by CBS 6 Albany, NYSPHSAA went into further detail about the regulations that will be on display during the winter season. Capacities inside gymnasiums and buildings will not be restricted, coming off the heels of a year that saw no spectators allowed in buildings.

Dr. Robert Zayas, NYSHPAA Executive Director stated in the article that there are no set punishments for a failure to wear the appropriate face coverings, at least not yet. Rather, he and the organization are hopeful that masks will be worn in good faith by those attending the events.

How Many States are Requiring Masks Indoors?

According to AARP, as of November 24, 2021, six states (Hawaii, Illinois, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon and Washington) currently require masks regardless of vaccination status.

New York reportedly falls into the next category, as they and two other states (California, Connecticut) require masks for the unvaccinated. Mask mandates are not solely decided at a state level, as Erie County reintroduced masks in indoor areas a short while back.

So, while nothing is set in stone, for the time being, your screaming and shouting at a high school game may be a bit muffled.