ALBANY – Governor Cuomo announced on Wednesday that patient-facing healthcare workers at state-run hospitals will be required to get vaccinated for COVID-19 by Labor Day. There will not be an option to be tested in lieu of vaccination for those workers.
Those hospitals in the Hudson Valley are Helen Hayes Hospital and Montrose Veterans Home.
The governor also announced all state employees, about 130,000, will be required to get vaccinated for COVID-19 by Labor Day. State workers who do not get vaccinated will be required to be tested for the virus on a weekly basis. He said the state is working with state unions to implement the requirement quickly and fairly.
Cuomo also called on the FDA to expedite final approval of the vaccine and end emergency use authorization restrictions.
He also urged local governments to require all employees to be vaccinated or submit to testing by Labor Day.
If the numbers continue to increase, he said school districts in affected areas should also strongly consider taking further action.
