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Governor Hochul says a statewide pause on all elective surgeries has been lifted as the spread of coronavirus slows across the Empire State.
Those procedures had been put on hold at several hospitals as the infection rate grew to make sure there were enough beds available for COVID-19 patients. On Thursday, Hochul also reiterated her stance on ending a mandate requiring students to wear masks in schools. The governor says she'll assess the COVID-19 data in early March before making a decision. She's asking parents to get their kids tested for the illness to prevent another spike in cases when they return to class next week.