COVID-19 cases in New York have rapidly declined over the last month as the omicron surge this winter appears to be subsiding. But for now, efforts to curtail the spread of the virus through wearing masks inside businesses and schools will remain in effect. 

Gov. Kathy Hochul on Friday indicated the future of mask wearing in schools, however, will be in large part linked to the number of kids who are vaccinated for the virus. 

"It's something we get asked a lot about: When are masks coming off in schools? We'll be making some announcements in the short term as we see these numbers progressing," she said on Friday during a weather and COVID-19 briefing. 

Hochul indicated she's watching the numbers, especially when it comes to increasing the number of children who have been vaccinated. Kids age 5 and older are eligible for the vaccine. 

"The more children we have vaccinated, the safer they will be when they go to school at the time they get to where they won't need a mask anymore," she said. "It's something we're striving for, but we're just not there yet."

The vaccination, along with a booster shot, is seen as an effective guard against contracting a severe case of COVID-19. A mask rule for indoor spaces was re-instituted in December as the omicron variant was beginning to show a steep rise in COVID-19 cases. 

The mask mandate, put in place by the state Department of Health, remains under a legal challenge in state court. Opponents of the mandate believe the rule should not be enforced because Hochul lacks the power to do so; state officials have argued the Department of Health is given broad powers to protect public health. 

Some Republican lawmakers in the state Assembly this week called for more local control over pandemic guidelines and mandates. Lawmakers like Assemblyman Christopher Tague called the current mandate a one-size-fits-all approach. 

"I think the biggest thing is whether it's constitutional or not and the fact that it never came before the Legislature as the representatives of the people," he said. "Things are not the same in downtown Schoharie that they are in downtown Manhattan so to speak. So each one of us represent diverse areas, unique areas and the biggest thing is having a voice for the people we represent." 

Others, including Assemblyman Michael Fitzpatrick, remain concerned over the mandate in place for schools. 

"We've got to learn with this virus and I think mandating masks, especially for children, is not the way to go," he said.