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NYC to mandate vaccines or weekly testing for FFs in September

The mandate applies to roughly 340,000 workers, including firefighters, cops and teachers

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The mayor announced a similar policy last week that will require city healthcare workers to get vaccinated or get tested for the coronavirus (COVID-19) weekly beginning Aug. 2.

AP Photo/Richard Drew

Paul Liotta
Staten Island Advance, N.Y.

NEW YORK — New York City’s municipal workers will need to receive coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccinations by the time schools reopen in mid-September or face weekly testing, the New York Times reported Monday morning.

The mandate will go into effect Sept. 13, the same day the city’s public schools reopen for the year, and apply to roughly 340,000 workers, including cops, teachers, and firefighters.

Mayor Bill de Blasio’s press secretary, Bill Neidhardt, shared the Times report on Twitter saying that more would be officially shared during his boss’ 10 a.m. media briefing Monday.

On Friday, de Blasio called on all employers to institute similar mandates for their staffs.

“Private employers have often told me that when the city acts, it’s an important signal to the private sector as well. So, let me make the signal explicit,” de Blasio said on the Brian Lehrer radio show. “I’m calling upon all New York City employers, including our private hospitals, move immediately to some form of mandate whatever the maximum you feel you can do.”

The mayor announced a similar policy last week that will require city healthcare workers to get vaccinated or get tested for the coronavirus (COVID-19) weekly beginning Aug. 2.

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