New York to mandate vaccines or weekly testing for state workers, Cuomo says

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New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday that state workers must be vaccinated or subject to weekly Covid-19 testing beginning next month. In addition, he said that all patient-facing health care workers in New York’s state-run hospitals must get vaccinated against Covid-19.

The move comes after New York City, California and Department of Veterans Affairs adopted a vaccination-or-testing requirement of employees.

With President Joe Biden reportedly planning to announce that all federal employees must be vaccinated or tested for Covid-19, Cuomo said that New York “is doing the same” and working with its unions to implement such a policy by Labor Day.

“It’s smart. It’s fair, it’s in everyone’s interest,” he said. But we have to go further: New York led the nation in going down the path that made the most sense, even though it is hard. … I think we need dramatic action to get control of this situation.”

Additional context: The governor announced that “there will be no testing option” for patient-facing health care workers at state hospitals, including facilities run by the State University of New York.

RandyMarsh

Article URL : https://www.politico.com/states/new-york/albany/story/2021/07/28/new-york-to-mandate-vaccines-or-weekly-testing-for-state-workers-cuomo-says-1389138