New York Metropolis imposes shot mandate for all non-public sector employers

New York Metropolis is imposing a vaccine mandate for all non-public sector employers as a preemptive measure to struggle a surge of Covid circumstances this winter, Mayor Invoice de Blasio introduced on Monday.

The mandate will go into impact on Dec. 27, de Blasio mentioned.

“We have omicron as a brand new issue, we have the colder climate, which is admittedly going to create extra challenges with the delta variant, we have vacation gatherings,” de Blasio instructed MSNBC Monday morning. “We in New York Metropolis have determined to make use of a preemptive strike to essentially do one thing daring to cease the additional progress of Covid and the hazards it is inflicting to all of us.”

Town can even require proof of vaccination for kids ages 5 to 11 for indoor eating, leisure and health institutions, the mayor mentioned.

New York has recognized eight circumstances of the omicron variant as of the weekend, seven within the New York Metropolis space and one in Suffolk County on Lengthy Island.

Covid circumstances are rising in New York Metropolis, with greater than 1,500 new circumstances confirmed each day on common, in keeping with the town well being division.

The New York Metropolis coverage comes after the Biden administration was pressured to halt implementation and enforcement of nationwide vaccine and testing necessities for companies with 100 or extra staff to adjust to a federal courtroom order.

Public well being officers are anxious a couple of surge in Covid circumstances this winter from the delta variant as folks collect inside to flee the winter chill. They’re additionally involved that the omicron variant may drive a spike in circumstances. The World Well being Group mentioned final week that early information suggests omicron is extra contagious than previous variants, although extra data is required.

It is unclear whether or not omicron causes extra extreme illness, in keeping with the WHO. The individuals who have examined constructive for omicron within the U.S. to date have proven delicate to reasonable signs.