NEW YORK -- Northwell Health, the massive New York hospital system, will mandate the COVID-19 vaccine for all 76,000 of its employees, including non-medical staff members.
The mandate says those who are not fully vaccinated by Aug. 16 will be required to be tested weekly for the virus.
Northwell says those who do not comply with testing could face termination.
According to Northwell, 77% of its workforce is vaccinated at this point.
The Long Island-based company has 23 hospitals and over 800 outpatient facilities under its name.
NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Commissioner Dave A. Chokshi applauded the move in a tweet:
Last week, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio made the call to require all of the city’s public hospital and health clinic staffers to get vaccinated against COVID-19 — or get tested for the virus every week beginning Monday.
Northwell Health, which is the state’s largest private employer, already required all new hires, students and volunteers to be fully vaccinated.