Cuomo: State employees must get vaccinated or take weekly COVID-19 tests

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Wednesday that all patient-facing health care workers at state hospitals must get vaccinated against COVID-19.

News 12 Staff

Jul 28, 2021, 9:18 PM

Updated 1,094 days ago

Share:

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Wednesday that all patient-facing health care workers at state hospitals must get vaccinated against COVID-19.
He also announced that all state employees must get vaccinated or face weekly COVID-19 tests.
Cuomo said he wants health care workers at state-run hospitals to be vaccinated for COVID-19 by Labor Day. The governor says there will be no testing option for health care workers.
It comes as COVID-19 cases continue to surge across the country, including in New York.
The mandate for state employees who must get vaccinated or face tests affects about 130,000 state employees.
The president of CSEA Local 1000 union, which is one of New York's largest workers unions released a statement, saying they support the governor's vaccine or test policy.
The PBA of New York state, which represents 1,200 workers in law enforcement says it is looking into legal options to oppose this.
News 12 asked a Mount Kisco-based employment attorney about the governor's announcement.
"I don't think it's per se illegal if you would, to discuss that or unlawful to have somebody be compelled to be vaccinated for the safety of the other employees in the workspace," said employment lawyer Marc Sheridan.
Cuomo says he's in talks with all the state's unions to come up with a plan to quickly implement this new rule.
The the Labor Department says your employer can mandate the vaccine if they give proper accommodations to people with medical or religious exemptions.


More from News 12
1:52
Hudson Valley doctors warn of listeria dangers following multi-state outbreak

Hudson Valley doctors warn of listeria dangers following multi-state outbreak

2:04
Sunny skies and warm temps for Saturday in the Hudson Valley

Sunny skies and warm temps for Saturday in the Hudson Valley

0:38
Multimillion-dollar transformation on the way for sections of Hudson Valley

Multimillion-dollar transformation on the way for sections of Hudson Valley

0:49
New basketball documentary film 'The Process' has ties to Westchester

New basketball documentary film 'The Process' has ties to Westchester

0:49
Olympic watch party in Pomona cheers on Rockland athletes

Olympic watch party in Pomona cheers on Rockland athletes

0:32
Veteran firefighter who suffered stroke receives warm welcome home

Veteran firefighter who suffered stroke receives warm welcome home

0:17
Yorktown police sergeant celebrates final walkout following 2 decades of service

Yorktown police sergeant celebrates final walkout following 2 decades of service

1:40
Lithium-ion battery fire blamed for closure of Newburgh tailor shop

Lithium-ion battery fire blamed for closure of Newburgh tailor shop

0:52
Slate Hill family of 5 loses home in afternoon blaze

Slate Hill family of 5 loses home in afternoon blaze

0:37
2 people charged in Middletown narcotics; firearms bust

2 people charged in Middletown narcotics; firearms bust

1:30
Motorcycle, van crash in Greenburgh causes serious injuries

Motorcycle, van crash in Greenburgh causes serious injuries

0:56
News 12 probes mystery cloud traced to Orange County & seen throughout tri-state area

News 12 probes mystery cloud traced to Orange County & seen throughout tri-state area

1:02
Hillcrest Fire Department receives 2,000 cans of drinking water, courtesy of Anheuser-Busch

Hillcrest Fire Department receives 2,000 cans of drinking water, courtesy of Anheuser-Busch

1:37
Storm Watch Team Meteorologist Skyler Harman strikes down lightning myths

Storm Watch Team Meteorologist Skyler Harman strikes down lightning myths

2:33
Can swimming become dangerous due to extremely high water surface temperatures?

Can swimming become dangerous due to extremely high water surface temperatures?

0:32
NYC officials: Westchester caseworker’s death ruled a homicide

NYC officials: Westchester caseworker’s death ruled a homicide

0:40
State, federal lawmakers introduce legislation to shorten funding gap for World Trade Center Health Program

State, federal lawmakers introduce legislation to shorten funding gap for World Trade Center Health Program

0:34
Ex Frito-Lay employee files defamation lawsuit against PepsiCo claiming he invented ‘Flamin’ Hot Cheetos

Ex Frito-Lay employee files defamation lawsuit against PepsiCo claiming he invented ‘Flamin’ Hot Cheetos

0:40
Executive orders still in place preventing Rockland County and Orange County hotels from converting into migrant shelters

Executive orders still in place preventing Rockland County and Orange County hotels from converting into migrant shelters

0:34
Finger in salad lawsuit against Chop’t discontinued

Finger in salad lawsuit against Chop’t discontinued