Policy

Governor Hochul calls for mandatory vaccine or testing for all New York public school staff

Photo by Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office

August 24, 2021

Governor Hochul calls for mandatory vaccine or testing for all New York public school staff

On her first day in office, Governor Kathy Hochul announced that all public school staff in New York State will be required to either be vaccinated against COVID-19 or participate in weekly testing. The news comes just one day after Mayor Bill de Blasio put a similar mandate in place for all teachers and staff, though there will be no test-out option in New York City.
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Policy

New York City mandates Covid vaccinations for all public school teachers, staff

Photo: Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office

August 23, 2021

New York City mandates Covid vaccinations for all public school teachers, staff

By Devin Gannon

New York City is requiring Department of Education employees to receive their first dose of the coronavirus vaccine by September 27, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Monday. The new mandate applies to the agency's 148,000 employees, including teachers, custodians, and central office workers and comes three weeks before the first day of school for the city's one million public school students. The policy takes away the option for DOE staff to submit for weekly testing instead of being vaccinated, which was part of a previous order announced last month.
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Policy

75% of adults in NYC have received at least one Covid vaccine dose

Photo courtesy of the New York National Guard on Flickr

August 19, 2021

75% of adults in NYC have received at least one Covid vaccine dose

By Devin Gannon

New York City hit a major milestone in its vaccination campaign this week. According to Mayor Bill de Blasio, 75 percent of all adults have received at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine. "This is a big, big deal," the mayor said on Thursday. "This is the kind of number we want to see." The city's vaccination rate is slightly above the nationwide percentage of adults vaccinated, which is 72.3 percent with at least one dose.
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Policy

What New Yorkers need to know about the Covid-19 booster shot

Courtesy of Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo on Flickr

August 18, 2021

What New Yorkers need to know about the Covid-19 booster shot

By Devin Gannon

President Joe Biden's administration on Wednesday said most Americans who are fully vaccinated against the coronavirus should get a third shot of the vaccine. Citing concerns over the highly contagious Delta variant and the reduction in the protection of the vaccine over time, officials from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said booster shots will be available to all residents as early as September 20 and administered to individuals eight months after receiving the second dose. In response, Mayor Bill de Blasio this week said New York City is more than prepared to deliver and administer the vaccine quickly to New Yorkers.
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Policy

All the places in NYC requiring proof of vaccination

Photo by Eden, Janine and Jim on Flickr

August 16, 2021

All the places in NYC requiring proof of vaccination

By Devin Gannon

Starting Tuesday, New Yorkers aged 12 and older must be vaccinated against the coronavirus to partake in indoor dining, fitness, and entertainment. The Key to NYC initiative, which applies to bars, fitness centers, movie theaters, museums, and other indoor venues, requires visitors to show proof of at least one dose of the vaccine. The policy will go into effect on August 17 with enforcement beginning the week of September 13.
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NYC will start offering third doses of Pfizer/Moderna vaccines

Photo credit: Don Pollard/Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo on Flickr

August 16, 2021

NYC will start offering third doses of Pfizer/Moderna vaccines

By Dana Schulz

Today, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Commissioner Dr. Dave A. Chokshi announced that all city-run vaccine sites, as well as hospitals, pharmacies, and doctor's offices, will start offering third doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines to New Yorkers 12 years of age or older who are moderately to severely immunocompromised. The news comes after the FDA amended the emergency use authorization for the two vaccines last week. Those who qualify include those under active treatment for cancer, those who've received an organ or stem cell transplant, and those with advanced or untreated HIV.
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Policy

Supreme Court blocks part of New York’s eviction moratorium

Photo by Rachel Martin on Unsplash

August 13, 2021

Supreme Court blocks part of New York’s eviction moratorium

By Devin Gannon

The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday partially blocked New York's eviction moratorium, striking down the part of the law which protects tenants who have filed a declaration of hardship due to the coronavirus pandemic. Since December of last year, the state's COVID Emergency Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention Act suspended eviction proceedings if renters declared a loss of income or health risk to protect themselves against eviction. The court said the moratorium, which was set to expire on August 31, was likely unconstitutional as landlords had no way to challenge a tenant's hardship claim.
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Policy

50,000 New Yorkers have received the $100 Covid vaccine incentive so far

Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office

August 13, 2021

50,000 New Yorkers have received the $100 Covid vaccine incentive so far

By Devin Gannon

In just two weeks, 50,000 New Yorkers have pocketed $100 after receiving the first dose of the coronavirus vaccine, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Thursday. The incentive program, which launched on July 30, gives New York City residents who get the shot at a city-run vaccination site a $100 pre-paid debit card. The incentive is part of the mayor's effort to boost the city's vaccination rate as a way to fight the highly contagious Delta variant of the virus, which has led to an increase in Covid-19 cases across New York and the country.
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Policy

Free at-home Covid-19 testing now available for seniors and immunocompromised New Yorkers

Mayor Bill de Blasio is tested for COVID-19.June 16, 2020. Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

August 11, 2021

Free at-home Covid-19 testing now available for seniors and immunocompromised New Yorkers

By Devin Gannon

New York City is expanding its at-home coronavirus testing program. The city's Health Department on Tuesday announced the free service will now be available to all immunocompromised New Yorkers and those aged 65 and older. In March, the at-home appointments first became available for those who had close contact with someone diagnosed with the virus. The expansion comes as the city sees an increase in new Covid-19 cases, and with it, the demand for testing.
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Policy

August 10, 2021

Queens’ Cambria Heights could gain two Tudor-filled historic districts

By Devin Gannon

The Landmarks Preservation Commission on Tuesday voted to calendar two historic districts in the Queens neighborhood of Cambria Heights. The proposed 222nd Street Historic District and the 227th Street Historic District contain a total of 96 intact Tudor Revival rowhouses that incorporate the whimsical Storybook style. One of several prosperous Black communities in southeastern Queens, Cambria Heights is home to many single-family homes, but the two blocks considered for landmark status stand out for their architectural integrity and cohesiveness, according to the commission.
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Policy

CityMD reinstates virtual line for Covid testing as virus cases in NYC continue to rise

By Dana Schulz

Back in December 2020, CityMD instituted a "virtual line" for people seeking Covid-19 tests, which allowed patients to check-in at the front desk and then receive a text when their time was close. The move came in response to complaints about hours-long lines as New Yorkers rushed to get tested before the holidays. Now, with the Delta variant causing a steep rise in cases across New York City, CityMD announced that today it would be reinstituting the virtual line, a stark reminder that the pandemic is not yet over.
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Here’s how you can show proof of vaccination in New York City

Photo courtesy of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office on Flickr

August 5, 2021

Here’s how you can show proof of vaccination in New York City

By Devin Gannon

Starting August 17, people who want to dine inside at a restaurant, exercise at the gym, or attend an indoor performance in New York City must present proof of Covid-19 vaccination. Mayor Bill de Blasio on Tuesday announced the "Key to NYC Pass" initiative, part of his administration's plan to increase the vaccination rate in the city and fight the very transmissible Delta variant. Plus, there are new vaccine mandates in place for city and state employees, including patient-facing public healthcare workers. There are three ways to prove you received the vaccine, including the state's Excelsior Pass, an app released by the city called NYC Covid Safe, or the paper record issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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Policy

Photo by Daniel Lee on Unsplash

August 4, 2021

New federal eviction ban covers renters in areas with high Covid rates, including New York

By Devin Gannon

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday issued a new temporary moratorium on evictions that covers renters in areas with high levels of coronavirus transmission. The new order, which replaces the previous federal ban that lapsed on Saturday, expires on October 3 and applies to renters in counties that are experiencing "substantial" or "high" levels of Covid-19 spread, which includes all of New York City. While New York's most recent state order halted evictions through the end of August, the new CDC moratorium provides renters an extra month of protection from eviction.
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Policy

All the NYC companies mandating Covid vaccines for employees

U.S. Army National Guard photo by Specialiat Li Ji via Flickr cc

August 3, 2021

All the NYC companies mandating Covid vaccines for employees

By Dana Schulz

New York City is taking the national lead on Covid vaccine mandates. Last week, both city and state governments said they would require employees to be vaccinated. And today, Mayor de Blasio announced that New Yorkers will need to show proof of vaccination to enter restaurants, gyms, and entertainment venues, the first such policy in the U.S. Many private companies, both local and national, are also following suit and requiring employees to be vaccinated. Some, like developers Durst and Related, say they will fire those who do not get inoculated. Others, like Google, Twitter, Lyft, and Uber, have also extended their work-from-home policies. The following list will be updated as more companies implement vaccination mandates.
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NYC to require proof of vaccination for indoor dining, fitness, and entertainment

Credit: Darren McGee- Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo on Flickr

August 3, 2021

NYC to require proof of vaccination for indoor dining, fitness, and entertainment

By Devin Gannon

New York City will require residents to provide proof of vaccination against the coronavirus to dine inside at restaurants, exercise at the gym, and visit indoor entertainment venues, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Tuesday. The new policy, which will take effect this month, comes as part of the city's effort to boost the vaccination rate while fighting the highly contagious Delta variant, which now accounts for nearly 90 percent of new cases analyzed by health officials.
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Policy

New York City recommends vaccinated people start wearing masks indoors again

Photo by Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office

August 2, 2021

New York City recommends vaccinated people start wearing masks indoors again

By Dana Schulz

Following the CDC's new guidance last week on indoor mask-wearing, Mayor de Blasio and Health Commissioner Dr. Dave Chokshi are recommending that even vaccinated New Yorkers start to once again wear masks in public indoor settings. The CDC made their recommendations based on a national rise in cases tied to the Delta variant and findings that vaccinated people can spread the variant. In New York City, the number of new cases has risen by nearly 20 percent in the last month.
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New York mandates vaccines or weekly testing for MTA and Port Authority employees

Photo by Marc A. Hermann / MTA New York City Transit

August 2, 2021

New York mandates vaccines or weekly testing for MTA and Port Authority employees

By Dana Schulz

In a press conference this morning, Governor Cuomo announced that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and Port Authority of New York and New Jersey will mandate COVID-19 vaccines or weekly testing for employees on the New York side. The protocol will go into effect starting Labor Day. "We beat the damn thing by being smart the first time. Be smart again," said the governor. This mandate joins a growing number that includes all state workers and all NYC municipal workers, including teachers and NYPD/FDNY members.
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Policy

All Broadway theaters will require vaccinations for audiences and actors

Photo by Raph_Ph via Wikimedia Commons

July 30, 2021

All Broadway theaters will require vaccinations for audiences and actors

By Dana Schulz

The Broadway League is the latest group to join a growing number of government agencies and businesses that will implement a Covid vaccine mandate. The League, which represents theater owners and show producers, put out a statement today saying that all 41 Broadway theaters will "require vaccinations for audience members, as well as performers, backstage crew, and theatre staff, for all performances through October 2021." In addition, audience members must wear masks indoors, given the CDC's new guidelines surrounding the Delta variant.
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Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group will require proof of vaccination at all restaurants

Photo of Gramercy Tavern by london road via Flickr cc

July 29, 2021

Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group will require proof of vaccination at all restaurants

By Dana Schulz

Union Square Hospitality Group CEO Danny Meyer announced that he will require proof of vaccination from staff and dine-in customers at all of his NYC and Washington D.C. full-service restaurants, which include Union Square Cafe, Blue Smoke, and Gramercy Tavern. "I’m not a scientist, but I know how to read data, and what I see is that this is a crisis of people who have not been vaccinated, and I feel strong responsibility, on our part as business leaders, to take care of our team and our guests, and that’s what we’re doing," said Meyer in an interview this morning on CNBC’s "Squawk Box."
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New York orders all state workers to be vaccinated or tested regularly

Photo: Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

July 28, 2021

New York orders all state workers to be vaccinated or tested regularly

By Devin Gannon

All workers employed by New York State will be required to be vaccinated against Covid-19 or get tested for the virus on a regular basis, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Wednesday. The governor put in place an even more stringent mandate for state hospitals: all patient-facing healthcare workers must now be vaccinated, with no test option offered. The announcement comes days after Mayor Bill de Blasio rolled out a similar requirement for all city workers and as President Joe Biden plans to announce all federal employees and contractors must be vaccinated or submit to testing.
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Policy

The CDC recommends all of New York City should wear masks indoors again

Screenshot taken on 7.27.21 of the CDC’s transmission map

July 27, 2021

The CDC recommends all of New York City should wear masks indoors again

By Dana Schulz

With the Delta variant and low vaccination rates causing some states to see record-high Covid rates, it was almost inevitable that the CDC would reverse its May guidance that vaccinated individuals can remove their masks indoors. And today, the federal agency issued new guidance that says even those fully vaccinated should "wear a mask indoors in public" in areas "of substantial or high transmission." While New York City's infection rates and hospitalizations remain much lower than a lot of the country, we are not immune to Delta's effect, and all NYC counties fall within the CDC's high-risk zones.
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Policy

Cuomo announces $15M community-focused vaccine initiative amidst rising Covid cases

A state-run mass vaccination site at the Bay Eden Senior Center in the Bronx. March 2021. Photo by Don Pollard/Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo

July 26, 2021

Cuomo announces $15M community-focused vaccine initiative amidst rising Covid cases

By Dana Schulz

A state-run mass vaccination site at the Bay Eden Senior Center in the Bronx. March 2021. Photo by Don Pollard/Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo Yesterday, New York State had 1,982 new Covid cases, up from 346 just one month ago. Of recent positive cases, 72.2 percent are linked to the Delta variant. Though 75 percent of the state's population is vaccinated, the numbers continue to rise among the 25 percent, or roughly 3.5 million people, who remain unvaccinated. To curb the spread, Governor Cuomo today announced a $15 million initiative to work with community-based organizations that can help advocate for the vaccine in communities with both high Covid spread and low vaccination rates.
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Policy

NYC will implement vaccine mandate for all city workers by September 13

Photo by Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office

July 26, 2021

NYC will implement vaccine mandate for all city workers by September 13

By Dana Schulz

Last week, Mayor de Blasio implemented a new city policy that will require city health workers to either show proof of vaccination or participate in weekly Covid testing. Today, he announced that the protocol, called the Covid Safety Mandate, will apply to the entire city workforce, including teachers and members of the NYPD and FDNY, by September 13. In addition, any city employee who does not get vaccinated will be required to wear a mask indoors. Though 71 percent of NYC residents have received at least one vaccine dose, the number is lower among some city agencies, and concerns about the Delta variant and a potential third wave are looming.
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As possible third wave looms, 70% of NYC adults have received at least one Covid vaccine dose

Photo of NYC vaccine hub, The Jefferson by Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office

July 22, 2021

As possible third wave looms, 70% of NYC adults have received at least one Covid vaccine dose

By Dana Schulz

With the Delta variant surging across the country (it now accounts for 83 percent of U.S. cases), experts are predicting a third wave of the coronavirus. Here in New York City, Mayor de Blasio has been reluctant to reinstate an indoor mask mandate, saying that he fears such action will deter those still unvaccinated from getting the shot. In a press conference today, the mayor announced that 70 percent of NYC adults have received at least one dose of the Covid vaccine. But with only 13 percent of children aged 12 to 17 vaccinated, is that figure high enough to warrant a return to normalcy now?
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