"My daughter had a meltdown about having to put sneakers on to go to kindergarten," the governor announced Friday throughout a press conference after being asked regarding a timeline for removing mask mandates in schools. "She got used to wearing sneakers in school. They adapt better than adults do."
Hochul went on, "I'm really proud of the parents that made sure their kids understood this is for their safety and got it done."
The governor continued that she is "looking forward" to lifting the mandate and knows "people are tired" of them.
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Hochul was immediately denounced on social media by users concerned regarding the possible damage wearing masks can cause children and the many studies that have cast doubt on the effectiveness of masks and shown low transmission in schools.
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"Why isn't @GovKathyHochul wearing a mask WHILE SHE SAYS THIS NONSENSE?" radiologist Pradheep Shanker tweeted.
"Andrew Cuomo 2.0 is somehow even worse than the original," Republican Congressman Lee Zeldin, who is running for governor to replace Hochul, posted. "She just doesn't get it at all. Enough! After you and I FIRE Kathy Hochul this November 8th, on Day ONE, ALL COVID-related vaccines and mask mandates END."
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"Of all the incredibly dumb attempted analogies by liberals to justify the insane, unnecessary, and counterproductive masking of kids, this may be the worst," Mediaite Senior Columnist John Ziegler tweeted. "You don't breath/speak using your feet. Unlike masks, shoes clearly work at protecting feet from all sorts of problems."
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The governor's office did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
Hochul has announced that she wishes most school districts to do away with mask-wearing once the statewide mandate is lifted next month.
Hochul has been one of the country's most outspoken governors when it comes to masking mandates though she was denounced in October after being caught at a Broadway play without a mask.
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Hochul has been a proponent of vaccine mandates saying in September that those who do not get vaccinated "are not listening to God and doing what God wants."
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"We are below the 10% positivity rate for the second day in a row. This is extraordinary progress," she said Saturday.
Of Friday's 299,580 swabs, 27,643 came back positive — a positivity rate of 9.2 percent.
The seven-day case rate declined in every region in the state through the end of the week.
New York City's positivity rate was further under 10%, clocking in at 9.60%, the governor announced.
According to the date, Friday's statewide death count was 179, bringing the total through that date to 51,716.
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