NYC to End Vaccine Mandate for Private-Sector Workers

By Hamodia Staff

NEW YORK — New York City will lift its COVID-19 vaccine mandate for private employers Nov. 1 but will continue to require its own workers to be inoculated, Mayor Eric Adams said Tuesday, in another sign of the city’s gradual return to pre-pandemic norms.

Adams, a Democrat, announced the relaxation of private-sector vaccine rules at a City Hall press conference where he got his own updated COVID-19 booster shot and urged others to follow his example.

“I’m thrilled to roll up my sleeve and get boosted and encourage all eligible New Yorkers to do the same,” Adams said.

New York City began requiring almost all private businesses to ban unvaccinated employees from the workplace in December 2021. Newsday previously reported that the rules were never enforced.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced this month that masks are no longer required on public transportation, including subway trains and stations.

Proof of vaccination will still be required for city workers, including police officers, firefighters and teachers, officials said.

Asked about the differing rules for public and private employees, city Health Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan said, “We’re looking at all of our policies and thinking about a glide path towards normal.”

When Adams was asked the same question, he said “I don’t think anything dealing with COVID makes sense, and there’s no logical pathway one can do. You make the decisions based on how to keep the city safe.”

The City Council’s Common Sense Caucus, comprised of Republicans and moderate Democrats, hailed the news. “This is a significant step toward correcting the errors and inequitable policies of the previous administration,” read a statement from the group, which met with the Mayor two weeks ago to discuss the issue. “We will continue engaging with the Mayor and his administration to also end the public employee COVID vaccine mandate and bring back city workers who were placed on leave or fired due to their vaccination status…”

With reporting from AP