New Rochelle COVID Vaccination Mandate, Cuomo Voices Support

NEW ROCHELLE, NY — City officials are following the lead of New Rochelle's two biggest neighbors, announcing that all municipal employees must provide proof of coronavirus vaccination or be subject to COVID-19 testing.

New Rochelle will require all municipal employees to be vaccinated or to undergo weekly COVID-19 tests, starting September 8, under the new policy announced on Thursday. The move mirrors similar policies introduced in recent weeks by New York City and Yonkers.

"Hundreds of millions of vaccinated Americans now enjoy health and peace of mind. By contrast, unvaccinated Americans account for the overwhelming majority of those still — tragically — succumbing to COVID," New Rochelle Mayor Noam Bramson said in a statement announcing the new rules. "Widespread vaccination is the only means of bringing this public health emergency to a conclusive end."

Bramson said the move is consistent with parallel actions among other public and private institutions, noting the measure will help ensure a safe work environment for city employees, while also nudging the city closer to herd immunity. The mayor also encouraged employers throughout New Rochelle to adopt similar measures.

While there has already been some pushback to the new rules on privacy grounds, the announcement already has at least one big fan. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo indicated his support for New Rochelle's new measures on social media Thursday morning.

"The City of New Rochelle will join the State in requiring its employees to either be vaccinated or get tested weekly," Cuomo wrote in a Twitter post. "Thank you New Rochelle for taking this smart step as the Delta variant spreads. We're all in this together."