Health care workers who declined to get a flu vaccine will no longer need to mask in New York.

State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald has declared that the flu is no longer prevalent in New York for the 2024-25 flu season.

That declaration gets rid of a masking requirement in place since December for health care workers in patient areas of hospitals, nursing homes and adult care facilities.

"As influenza season winds down and the flu virus is no longer prevalent in New York, we are lifting the longstanding masking requirement for health care workers in hospitals, nursing homes, and adult care facilities who chose not to get their annual flu shot," McDonald said. "However, as influenza continues to circulate, I recommend appropriate precautions, such as performing good hand hygiene and staying home from work or school if you are sick to prevent spreading illness."

You can check the latest influenza date on the state Department of Health's Flu Tracker.