Last week, Governor Cuomo mandated that all kids ages 2-5 wear face masks while at childcare, day camp and overnight camp. Some childcare advocates responded. On My Way Childcare Owner Peggy Fuentes responded: “We were incredibly disappointed and shocked when we got the guidelines last Wednesday that our children, after 14 months of being unmasked, are required now to be masked,” as reported by Spectrum News.

Initial guidelines can be seen here as reported on by Gothamist, which included: “The new policy applies to staffers and attendees at childcare programs, day camps and overnight camps. Under the rules, the unvaccinated should only remove their face coverings while eating, drinking, showering, swimming or sleeping. The guidance adds that ‘children/campers may also remove face coverings outdoors when they are unable to tolerate a face covering for the physical activity.’”

The Governor’s office stated the following regarding its almost immediate reversal of the guidelines: “Both agencies understand how difficult it is to require the youngest children to wear masks, and have jointly agreed to revise guidance allowing child care providers to continue the practices and protocols that have been in place since the start of the pandemic by encouraging, not requiring, children aged 2-5 to wear masks, effective immediately.”

It is not known if the people running these two agencies are currently raising children between the ages of 2-5.

Dutchess County’s Executive Marcus Molinaro issued the following statement on Monday evening: “Like too many decisions coming from the executive’s offices, forcing young children to wear masks never made any scientific sense. Dutchess was among the first local governments to call on New York State to correct this inconsistency and made clear we would not enforce it. I am heartened to see the State has listened to reason. We trust this will extend to all children in these safe settings. Clearly we are passed time NY end the declared state of emergency and allow local public health official do their jobs without heavy handed State interference.”