The Erie County Department of Health will follow Gov. Kathy Hochul's school masking requirements starting Wednesday.

Officials say students and staff will not be required to wear masks while in school buildings.

It comes after new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance was released categorizing the county as a medium level risk of infection based on hospitalization numbers.

The county also released new guidance for all residents.

Health officials say if you are immunocompromised or high risk for severe disease, you should talk to your health care provider about masking and other precautions. You should also have rapid testing if needed at home and talk to your doctor about whether you are a candidate for treatments like oral antivirals, PrEP, and monoclonal antibodies.

Everyone else should stay up to date with vaccines and boosters and follow all recommendations for quarantine, isolation and testing.

The county health department says it will be providing a supply of KN94 masks in adult and pediatric sizes for schools at a later date.

More information can be found on the county's website.

In addition, Erie County lifted its mask mandate in municipal buildings Monday.

The Buffalo Common Council says masks are no longer needed in City Hall.

Niagara and Chautauqua counties are choosing to follow suit, as starting Wednesday they both are lifting mask mandates at schools.