If you’re a parent or daycare provider, you know that it’s hard enough to get two-year-olds to keep their shoes on from minute to minute. Now, Governor Cuomo expects toddlers to wear a face mask all day.
Today, I joined my Senate Republican colleagues along with parents, educators, and child care advocates – including a mother of three from the 51st Senate District – to call on the governor to repeal his unscientific mask-on-toddlers mandate.
Children in daycare and preschoolers made it through the worst of the pandemic with no mask mandate in place. The science has shown that the risk of serious COVID-related spread and illness with children in this age range is minimal. Yet now, even after repealing the mask mandates on adults and acknowledging that the worst of the pandemic is well behind us, Governor Cuomo has decided to suddenly enforce this unnecessary new requirement that only brings more stress to young children and makes it harder for teachers to help them learn and grow.
I have consistently pressed to end the governor’s expanded emergency powers and his mask mandate proves once again why action is needed.
Sincerely,
Senator Peter Oberacker (R,C) 51st Senate District