By Hanna Park
(NEW YORK) New York Mayor Bill de Blasio warned on Friday that vaccine mandates against the coronavirus, including one for indoor dining, might be required to urge residents to get vaccinated in an effort to curb the spread of the delta variant, The New York Times reports.
“I’m calling upon all New York City employers, including our private hospitals, to move immediately to some form of mandate,” de Blasio said.
The news comes as all workers at New York City's public hospitals and health clinics will be required to get vaccinated or take weekly coronavirus tests starting Aug. 2, the mayor announced Wednesday.
De Blasio said that he is considering a vaccine mandate for certain indoor activities — such as dining in restaurants — and for more city employees to get vaccinated or regularly tested. He also encouraged private employers to require their employees to get vaccinated.
City officials have tried to convince residents to get the shot on their own, he said in a radio interview on WNYC, but voluntary efforts alone are no longer working, and just over 41 percent of the city’s population has yet to get a shot, according to city data.
On a national level, several organizations, including various hospital systems, schools, and professional football organizations, took measures to require vaccinations.
On Thursday, the National Football League announced a penalty to incentivize players to get vaccinated, in their strongest stance the football league has taken in combating the pandemic. The commissioner, Roger Goodell, sent a note to all 32 teams stating that players who refuse to receive a vaccine may risk their teams from forfeiting games if they test positive and cause an outbreak.
Health officials have confirmed that vaccines remain effective against the worst symptoms of the coronavirus, including from the delta variant. Vaccination rates in the U.S. have decreased by more than 80% since mid-April, and less than half of the country is fully vaccinated, according to federal data.