Wednesday is symbolic when it comes to the pandemic as New York State is dropping the mask mandate that's been in place for more than a year.

The change is in line with the CDC's updated guidelines. People who are fully vaccinated are no longer required to wear masks whether they're indoors or outdoors.

It's a move many people have longed for but also it comes with a lot of questions.

Even though many businesses are ditching the masks, people will still have to mask up in some places. And people still have the right to wear a mask anywhere they want if they decide to do so.

Starbucks, for example, is one of the places that's decided to give customers the choice of whether to wear a mask. Other chains like Wegmans, Tops, Walmart, Trader Joe's, Costco, CVS, Home Depot and Target are doing the same.

But not all businesses are ditching the masks. Some are choosing to continue requiring customers to wear them. Places like Walgreens.

At the same time, the CDC suggests people do wear a mask if they're riding public transportation, in a correctional facility, school, nursing home or other health care facility.

That guidance is expected to stay in place until more people throughout the state are vaccinated. The state department of health still recommends masks in indoor settings when you don't know whether people have been vaccinated.

In addition to ditching the masks, the CDC says if you are fully vaccinated, you do not need to maintain social distance. That means businesses can also eliminate the requirement that people remain 6 feet apart if everyone has proof that they're vaccinated.

As for the number of people who have received the COVID-19 vaccine, the state says more than 52% of New Yorkers over the age of 18 are now fully vaccinated.

For anyone that has not yet received the vaccine, the CDC and the state both say they should continue wearing a mask whenever they're in public.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo is leaving it up to businesses to decide whether they require masks.