New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced Friday that masks will be required in all indoor public places unless the businesses or venues implement a vaccine requirement.

Businesses will be forced to either check the vaccination status of employees and customers entering the building, or force everyone to wear a mask. 

The order will go into effect on Monday, December 13 and is scheduled to end on January 15, 2022.

Each violation of the rule will carry a maximum $1,000 fine, a press release from the governors office said.

If a business opts for the vaccine requirement, employees and patrons must be 14 days removed from the final shot of a COVID-19 vaccine sequence - either the second shot of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines or the first shot of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. 

Mask requirements will apply to all patrons two years or older.

The mandate would apply to office workspaces as well. 

Local health departments around the state will be responsible for enforcing the new mandates. 

Hochul cited the rising cases in the state as reason for the move, along with the new threat of the Omicron variant - for which New York is the leader in sequenced cases.

It comes days after New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced drastic measure to combat the spread of Covid, including vaccine mandates for private sector employees.