New York state will review the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women in the workplace as studies have shown a widening of the income gap with men more than two years since the start of the public health crisis. 

Gov. Kathy Hochul on Friday announced the review, calling the decision to close schools and switch students to remote learning "a mistake" that affected women and kids.

The review will include public hearings and an assessment compiled by the state Department of Labor on the issue. Separately, New York will be conducted a more wide-ranging assessment of the pandemic and decisions made by state officials that affected nursing homes, buisinesses, hospitals and classroom instruction. 

The plan was announced as Hochul was at the University at Albany to commemorate Women's Equality Day in New York, the anniversary of women gaining the right to vote in the U.S. 

Hochul called the pandemic “cruel for women,” especially those who had to go to work when many people were living under a stay-at-home order.

“I saw the power of women who had to show up to those jobs,” she said, adding it was especially difficult for lower-income women and women of color to balance work with child care.  

Hochul pointed to women having to choose between their jobs and taking care of children who were struggling to learn over Zoom lessons. The state is moving to relax COVID restrictions for classrooms when schools reopen next month, including ending policies like "test to stay" and quaranting classrooms when a student tests positive. 

New York is also sending COVID tests to school districts ahead of the start of the new school year. 

A final report is meant to build on a 2018 review of the gender wage gap Hochul co-chaired as lieutenant governor. The report is also expected to make policy recommendations. 

"It is no secret that, from a workforce perspective, the pandemic has taken a damaging toll on women, reversing significant strides we have achieved over the last decade," said Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon. "I am proud to continue to work with Governor Hochul to tackle this longstanding economic issue to ensure New York is a state of workplace and pay equality."