**EDITOR’S NOTE** Letter to Gov. Cuomo and Commissioner Zucker may be viewed here

​Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) has written a letter to Gov. Andrew Cuomo and state Health Commissioner Howard Zucker slamming new guidelines published by the administration’s Department of Health that mandates the wearing of masks, for periods of up to several hours, for children as young as two years old in childcare and summer camp facilities. Some local health officials have stated that childcare centers or summer camps that are found to be in violation of this guidance could pay up to $1,500 per day per child in fines.

“To think that these guidelines are needed this year following our historic vaccination effort, when they weren’t needed last year before anybody had immunity, is just absurd. Almost as absurd as the idea a 2-year old will calmly keep a mask on their face for hours at a time,” said Hawley. “This mandate is not needed to protect public health, and only serves to jeopardize the operations of summer camps and childcare centers alike. I hope to see it swiftly rescinded.”