ALBANY, N.Y. — New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Wednesday that the state will end a COVID-19 mandate requiring face coverings in most indoor public settings, but will keep masking rules in place in schools for now.

The mask mandate for places like grocery stores, shops and offices was put in place Dec. 10 as the omicron variant began infecting huge numbers of New Yorkers. It was set to expire Thursday unless the Democrat’s administration extended it.

Hochul said infection rates and hospitalizations have declined to a level where it is safe to rescind the order.

“This fight is not over, we’re not surrendering. This is not disarmament,” she told reporters at her New York City office, “but again the trends are very, very positive.”

Other Democratic governors have taken similar steps in recent days.