Manhattan Court blocked Mayor Bill de Blasio’s COVID-19 vaccination mandate for New York City workers, including the NYPD.
On Tuesday, Judge Frank P. Nervo of the Supreme Court of New York informed that the mandate had been suspended pending a hearing set for December 14.
Patricia Finn, an attorney who calls herself in the cyberworld as “The Good Health Lawyer New Yotk (sic),”, launched the legal challenge to the mayor’s mandate. On her social media, she regularly expresses anti-vaccination views.
Finn posted on Facebook: “Please do not support lockdowns of the unvaccinated.” This post garners support to lockdowns and punishments for those these bureaucrats consider threatening.
De Blasio issued an order on October 20 requiring all city employees to get at least one shot by October 29 or risk losing their jobs. The order affected approximately 160,000 employees. Firefighter and Police union leaders warned against the rule’s potential for staff shortages.
New York City has administered over 12.5 million vaccine doses to date, with 89 per cent of adults having received at least one dose. Over 125,000 children between 5 and 11 years old have received at least one dose. The city’s average daily COVID death rate was 829 at the peak of the pandemic. However, it dropped to 11 on Tuesday.
De Blasio stated on November 1 that the mandate for city workers was working and that vaccination rates had risen from 85 percent for NYPD to 88 percent for emergency medical service, 83 percent for sanitation, and 77 percent for firefighters.
According to a City of New York statement, de Blasio declared Monday that a mandate was being issued for vaccines to be administered to private sector workers. It is expected to go into effect on December 27, and will apply to approximately 184,000 businesses.
The mayor also announced significant expansions to the “Key to NYC” program. This involves getting as many people vaccinated as possible to allow the city to return to normal operations. To participate in indoor activities, New Yorkers aged 18 and older must show proof of vaccination.
Children aged 5-11 years old must also show proof of vaccination in order to be allowed into indoor entertainment, performance, and fitness venues. These changes will take effect December 14.
These age groups will need to be vaccinated in order to take part in high-risk extracurricular activities, such as orchestra or dance.
New Yorkers 12 years old and over will need to present proof of two doses of vaccines starting December 27 with the exemption of those who have received the Johnson & Johnson single-shot vaccination.
“New York City will not give a single inch in the fight against COVID-19. Vaccination is the way out of this pandemic, and these are bold, first-in-the-nation measures to encourage New Yorkers to keep themselves and their communities safe.” De Blasio stated Monday .
The mayor continued: “From workplace mandates, to $100 incentives, to mobile and at-home vaccination offerings, no place in the nation has done more to end the COVID era. And if you have not taken this step yet: there’s no better day than today to stand up for your city.”
As proof of vaccination, a CDC-issued card, along with the New York state Excelsior Pass and Clear Health Pass will be accepted.
