BUFFALO, N.Y. — New York is a little more than a week away from a broad loosening of COVID restrictions that includes lifting capacity limits for many businesses.

However, the state is not yet lifting indoor mask requirements in those settings. University at Buffalo Division of Infectious Diseases Professor and Chief Dr. Thomas Russo believes if the new rules are successful, more changes could come soon after.

"I think this is a good way to do it, sort of step down piece meal as we've really been doing all along," Russo said.

Sunday on ABC News, Dr. Anthony Fauci said he believes it may soon be time to change federal guidance on wearing face coverings indoors.

"I think those comments are accurate," Russo said. "It's just a matter of timing. We need to get cases down to lower levels to be more confident about loosening restrictions but we're getting there."

The doctor believes the next logical step in New York is to lift mask mandates for vaccinated and perhaps even unvaccinated people at outdoor events.

Indoors, he said it's trickier but possible. 

"I suspect the most likely scenario, at least initially, will be something in between whereas fully-vaccinated individuals, masks will be at their discretion, whereas if you're unvaccinated, perhaps some combination of testing or masks," he said.

Russo said the federal government gives broad guidance and if a region in New York has higher COVID rates, new mask rules could be delayed. However, he said the state has generally followed the CDC’s lead.

"Governor Cuomo has for the most part largely adopted CDC regulations, so  if they come up with some sort of change, it could happen very rapidly here in New York state," he said.

The UB expert said even if the state lifts indoor mask mandates, they may not be gone for good. He said there's a chance there could be another case spike in the fall and if that happens, it may need to reinstate restrictions.

Russo said much of it will depend on how many people are vaccinated.