CANTON -- Businesses in St. Lawrence County can continue to require people to wear a mask inside their establishments, or adhere to new federal guidance. As part of allowing vaccinated people to go mask-less, businesses can require proof of full vaccination status through paper form, digital application, the State's Excelsior Pass, or from self-reporting directly from customers.

Effective May 19, New York adopted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) “Interim Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People,” issued May 13, for most businesses and public settings.

"Businesses are authorized to require masks and six feet of social distancing for employees and/or patrons within their establishments or adhere to CDC guidance, which advises that fully vaccinated individuals do not need to wear masks or be socially distanced, but unvaccinated individuals must continue to wear masks and be socially distanced in most settings," according to state guidelines.

For retail, food services, offices and businesses that do not congregate patrons and/or that operate below the State’s social gathering limit of 250 indoors or 500 outdoors

Per NYS Guidance

• If businesses are implementing the CDC guidance, they may require proof of full vaccination status through paper form, digital application, or the State's Excelsior Pass. Alternatively, such businesses may rely upon self-reporting of vaccination status (e.g., honor system).

• If the business is following the CDC guidance, fully vaccinated individuals do not need to wear masks or be socially distanced, but unvaccinated individuals must continue to wear masks and be socially distanced.

• The business may decide to apply this guidance to the entire establishment or a separate, designated part of the establishment. Or, if the business is not following the CDC guidance, all individuals must wear masks and maintain six feet of social distancing.

• Business capacity is only limited by the space available for patrons or parties of patrons to maintain the required social distance.

• The Department of Health strongly recommends masks and six feet of social distancing in indoor settings where vaccination status of individuals is unknown. Any mask requirements that businesses choose to implement must adhere to all applicable federal and state laws and regulations (e.g., Americans with Disabilities Act).

Businesses can obtain mask policy posters from Commercial Press in Canton.