Annika Kim Constantino reports for CNBC that New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Dec. 10 a statewide mask mandate for all indoor public places unless businesses or venues have implemented a vaccine requirement beginning Dec. 13. The mandate stays in effect through Jan. 15, 2022, when state officials will reassess. The mandate comes with winter beginning soon, and COVID-19 case counts locally sometimes exceeding last year, when vaccines were not available. “We shouldn’t have reached the point where we are confronted with a winter surge, especially with the vaccine at our disposal, and I share many New Yorkers’ frustration that we are not past this pandemic yet," Hochul said. Since Thanksgiving, the state’s weekly seven-day case rate has jumped by 43 percent and hospitalizations have risen by 29 percent. More people are dying. “I have warned for weeks that additional steps could be necessary, and now we are at that point based upon three metrics: increasing cases, reduced hospital capacity and insufficient vaccination rates in certain areas,” Hochul said in the statement, adding the mask mandate “will no longer be necessary” if “others will follow suit” and get vaccinated. Noncompliant businesses could be subject to a maximum fine of $1,000 per violation. Read more about this story at CNBC.