See Mask Mandates and Guidance in Each State

With coronavirus cases rising in much of the country and the arrival of the Omicron variant, several states are reimposing mask requirements in most public places.

The New York Times is tracking mask policies for residents — and separate rules for schools — at the state level. This includes monitoring where residents are advised to follow federal guidance and where leaders are rejecting such guidance or mandates. This page will be updated weekly.

Mask policies by state

States including New York and California recently reinstated mask rules, with some exceptions for businesses that require proof of vaccination.

Masks remain a polarizing symbol, however, and some governors and legislators have resisted the idea of universal mask mandates, or moved to ban them.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in July that people living in areas experiencing coronavirus outbreaks should wear masks indoors in public places, regardless of vaccination status.

Mask policies for schools

Schools have also been at the center of the debate over mask mandates, and in many parts of the country parents and local leaders have aggressively resisted them. School boards and mayors are not always in sync with state leaders, leaving many districts tied up in lengthy litigation over mask rules.

Florida’s governor said that parents could choose to have their children opt out of any school mask requirements, effectively rendering those requirements moot. In Arizona and Iowa, courts have blocked attempts to ban mandates in schools. And a federal judge overruled a ban in Texas and permitted districts there to set their own rules.

The C.D.C. recommends that all students, teachers and staff members in K-12 schools wear masks, regardless of their vaccination status.

Tracking the Coronavirus