NEW YORK (WCBS 880) -- The NYPD is canceling all scheduled days off for the upcoming New Year’s holiday as the number of officers calling out sick skyrockets amid a spike in COVID-19 cases across the city.
The department confirmed that all regular days off on Friday and Saturday have been canceled. All healthy officers will be required to work New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day regardless of their regular shifts.
The New York Post reported that more than 6,000 officers—about 17% of the uniformed force of 36,000—were under the weather on Tuesday. That’s more than four times a typical day, when between 3% and 4% of the workforce calls out sick.
More than half of those officers reported having flu-like symptoms, while over 1,300 were positive for COVID-19, a source told the Post.
It comes as New York state sees a spike in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations. New York City continued to dominate positive COVID-19 cases on Monday with 27,774 positive infections out of the over 40,000 statewide.
The city pegs the NYPD’s vaccination rate at 88%, even with a full mandate in place. Several thousand officers have filed for religious exemptions.
The coronavirus is hitting other city agencies hard as well.
The MTA announced it was reducing service on some subway lines this week due to crew shortages.
And the FDNY reported about one in five EMS workers were out sick last weekend.
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