ALBANY — Gov. Kathy Hochul on Wednesday lifted her mask mandate for businesses, effective Thursday, but left it in place for schools through at least early March.The mask requirement also remains in effect as a COVID-control measure in state-regulated health facilities and elder-care facilities; jails and prisons; childcare centers; homeless shelters; domestic violence shelters; and in buses, trains and transportation facilities.Counties, cities and businesses can choose to require masks indoors, but aside from the numerous exceptions, the state is no longer mandating the practice.At a morning news conference, the governor noted that every metric of COVID-19 is substantially better now…