The government’s grip on local schools is finally loosening, but the last few years have shown us just how needful it is for  intercessors to pray for our schools.

From the Center Square. New York expects to drop its mask mandate for schools on Wednesday, Gov. Kathy Hochul told reporters Sunday afternoon.

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The governor said that individual counties and cities could maintain mask mandates if leaders in those communities felt it was necessary. New York City schools will keep the mask mandate for its approximately 1 million schoolchildren through this upcoming week. However, shortly after Hochul’s announcement, Mayor Eric Adams said mandates for the schools and other businesses likely would be lifted.

Those decisions came after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released new guidelines on Friday. In the new guidance, federal officials indicated only counties with what’s considered a high level of COVID-19 should continue with mask mandates.

The federal agency listed 11 of New York’s 62 counties under that classification….

“We believe that by Wednesday, we’ll be able to have a situation where we’ll have the lifting of the mask requirement,” she said….

Besides schools, that would also include daycare centers, where children as young as 2 years old must currently wear masks.

The 11 upstate counties still considered high-risk areas should consider mandates, but the state would not extend its order to cover them, Hochul said….

Shortly after Hochul finished her press conference from the state capitol, Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt, R-North Tonawanda, said lifting the mandate served as “a long-overdue victory for kids and parents, educators and common sense.”

He also called on the legislature to take up a resolution he’s offered to end the state of emergency in New York.

“Our colleagues across the aisle have refused to act — it’s time that we take this up for a vote this week,” he said.

While Democratic lawmakers may show some reticence, Democratic executives show some willingness, starting with Adams.

The mayor noted that New York City schools return Monday from a week-long break. Barring any unexpected spikes in cases over the next few days, Adams said the mask mandate for city schools would end effective next Monday, March 7.

That’s not the only mandate that may end next Monday. Adams said the vaccine requirement for indoor dining, fitness and entertainment venues could also go away on the same day….

(From The Center Square. Photo Credit: Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash)

How do you feel about the mask mandates?