NY Mandates Vaccinations For Front-Facing State Hospital Workers

LONG ISLAND, NY — With new cases of the coronavirus up more than 700 percent in New York over the past month, Gov. Andrew Cuomo called for "aggressive" action Wednesday: All state employees will soon have to be vaccinated or tested regularly. And in the case of state hospitals, all front-facing employees will face a mandatory vaccination, with no testing option, Cuomo said.

The changes will be implemented as of Labor Day, he said.

Cuomo also urged school districts in areas where the numbers are high and vaccination rates low to take more aggressive action. "Schools can become super spreaders and in September, it will happen," he said. "This is an intense and pivotal moment and we all have to work together... We have to go further."

On Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revised its guidance to say that in areas where the Delta variant is causing a spike in numbers and vaccination rates are low, even fully vaccinated people will be asked to mask up indoors. The CDC on Tuesday also recommended that everyone in schools from K-12 wear a mask, whether or not they are vaccinated.

Cuomo said the state is going to do a "full review" of the new CDC guidance and also look to international health experts.

Employers are able to mandate vaccinations for employees, Cuomo said. He urged the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to grant final approval for the vaccinations — they are currently being administered under an emergency use authorization.

If the vaccines are federally approved, Cuomo has more authority to mandate vaccinations for state schools and colleges and for local governments in areas with a high number of cases, he said. As it stands, schools themselves can mandate vaccinations for teachers, staff, and bus drivers, because schools are employers, he said. If numbers continue to rise, schools should consider "dramatic action," he said.

The number of new cases across New York has risen from 275 to 2,203 in one month, Cuomo said. That' an increase of more than 700 percent — the number is up from 449 percent on Monday. "The Delta variant is real," he said.

While 75 percent of adults have been vaccinated in New York, 25 percent, or 3.5 million — a number larger than the population in 21 states — have not.

"Denial does not work," he said. Many communities with vaccine hesitancy have high positivity rates and low vaccination rates, a "dangerous connection," Cuomo said. Local governments in those areas should consider following the CDC guidance, Cuomo said.

"The virus feeds on our lack of action, apathy, and fear," Cuomo said.

On Long Island, areas with high vaccine hesitancy and low vaccination rates include parts of Calverton and Riverhead, according to a map shown during Cuomo's briefing.

The state recently awarded $15 million in funding for community groups that will help tackle vaccine hesitancy through outreach; new ads were also unveiled.

Businesses and the private sector can also play a major role, either opting to admit only vaccinated individuals to establishments, incentivizing vaccinations, and mandating vaccinations, Cuomo said.

At the same time, New York City's economy is lagging and "everyone needs to get back to the office," Cuomo said, urging employers to suggest that employees return by Labor Day.

Of the vaccination mandate for front-facing state hospital workers, Cuomo said: "It's an aggressive step. There will be pushback." Cuomo said he will be having conversations with the unions. "But we know what we are dealing with. You have public-facing people who the public must, by definition, be exposed to. That person has the added responsibility of not transmitting the virus and I don't have a problem, as an employer, saying it. It's appropriate that government takes the first step. I'm on legally sound ground."

Cuomo added: "We've seen the movie. We had front-row seats and we paid the highest price of admission to see 'COVID I, The Movie.' I don't want to see the sequel."