ALBANY, N.Y. (WBEN/AP) - New York will require all state employees to get vaccinated against the coronavirus by Labor Day or undergo weekly tests for COVID-19, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday.
The Democrat announced the policy Wednesday in a Zoom call with the nonprofit Association for a Better New York. In mandating either the shots, or frequent testing for government workers, Cuomo is following on the heels of California and New York City, which announced similar policies for employees earlier this week. New York is taking its vaccination effort a step further and requiring all state employees to get the shot or be tested weekly, and we look forward to working with our sisters and brothers in the labor movement to implement that quickly and effectively by Labor Day. Our healthcare heroes have led the way all through this terrible crisis, so let's get vaccinated, save lives and beat this beast for once and for all," says Cuomo. New York, like other states, has seen a rising number of coronavirus cases linked to the Delta variant.
Cuomo also is requiring all patient-facing healthcare workers to get vaccinated. He says there will be no testing option. "New Yorkers have displayed tremendous dedication and resilience to defeat the COVID-19 pandemic across the state, but vaccination rates aren't keeping pace with the Delta variant and we need to act now," says Cuomo. "That's why we're requiring everyone who works in a state-run hospital and interacts with patients to get vaccinated."
New infections have climbed more than 400% since the end of June.
