Hochul reiterates decision for keeping some mask requirements

Gov. Kathy Hochul was at Upstate Medical University in Syracuse Wednesday morning to give an update on COVID cases in the state.

The governor says there has been a slight uptick in cases.

She said the state Department of Health has identified two sub-variants of omicron.

The governor said even though masks are no longer required on planes, trains, buses and other public transportation — they will still be required on mass transit in New York.

"Let’s just be smart about it," said Hochul. "I think people do feel better when they’re in public transit sitting really close to somebody to know that people are protecting themselves," said Hochul.

"This is very much in the short-term," she added.

The governor says hospitalizations are also going up slightly, but half the COVID hospitalization cases are asymptomatic.