All New York City employers will soon need to mandate that their workers present proof of vaccination against COVID-19, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Monday.
The outgoing mayor announced the policy during an appearance on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” describing it as a “pre-emptive strike” against an expected surge in COVID cases this winter amid the emergence of the Omicron variant of the virus.
The policy will go into effect Dec. 27.
“We’re going to announce a first-in-the-nation measure,” de Blasio said. “Our health commissioner will announce the vaccine mandate for private sector employers across the board. All private-sector employers in New York City will be covered by this vaccine mandate.”
Hizzoner added that the mandate is aimed at “maximizing vaccination quickly, so we can get ahead of Omicron and all the other challenges we’re facing right now.”
Currently, only municipal employees are subject to a COVID-19 inoculation requirement, which took effect for most city workers in late October.
Also Monday, de Blasio announced that two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine will be required to enter many indoor businesses in the five boroughs — including bars, restaurants and fitness centers. The current iteration of the “Key to NYC” program requires just one vaccine dose.
Additionally, children ages five to 11 will soon be required to receive at least one shot in a vaccine series to enter indoor establishments.
Those policy adjustments will also take effect Dec. 27, the mayor said.
The new measures come after de Blasio on Friday hinted he is considering adding more restrictive provisions to the Big Apple’s indoor venue vaccine rules.
