New York City will require all school staff to be vaccinated

All teachers and other public school employees from the city of new York they will need to be vaccinated against the coronavirusAuthorities reported on Monday, as the country’s largest school system prepares for the start of classes next month.

The city had previously said teachers, like other city employees, should be vaccinated or tested weekly for the virus. The new policy marks the first vaccination mandate for workers in the country’s most populous city.

Around 148,000 school employees -and entrepreneurs who work in schools- should receive at least one dose before September 27, according to an announcement by Democratic Mayor Bill de Blasio and the city’s health and education services.

The city did not immediately say what the penalty would be in the event of refusal, or whether there would be any waivers.. The previous vaccination or testing requirement provided for the unpaid suspension of workers who did not comply.

At least the 63% of school employees have already been vaccinated. This figure does not include those who were vaccinated outside the city.

Classes begin September 13 for the city’s one million public school students.

It is unclear how the unions representing teachers and other school employees will react, although early union signals reported by the New York Times are positive. The city’s education ministry says it is discussing the matter with them. The announcement comes at a time when New York and other cities and states are battling the highly contagious delta variant of the virus, increasing the pressure for more people to get vaccinated.

Last week, New York City began requiring proof of vaccination to enter dining rooms in restaurants, gyms and many other public places, a pioneering policy in the country that other cities have since copied. his announcement. Meanwhile, New York State announced last week that hospital and nursing home workers should get vaccinated.

Vaccination mandates for teachers have so far been scarce in the United States, although Washington State, for example, says teachers must be vaccinated or fired. Vaccination or testing requirements are slightly more common.

A new poll from PA revealed that around 6 in 10 Americans think students and teachers should be required to wear masks while they are at school, and Eligible teachers and students should also be required to be vaccinated.

But the Democrats and Republicans differ sharply on these issues, according to the survey.

Although about 68% of adult New Yorkers are fully vaccinated, COVID-19 cases recently soared to more than 1,850 per day, a 19% increase in two weeks.

The unvaccinated population continues to run the risk of both contracting the virus and feeling its worst effects.

(With AP information)

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