The new mandate will take effect on December 27th, just days before a new mayor takes office and while a federal vaccine mandate for many private-sector employees is still being litigated.
“We’ve got Omicron as a new factor. We’ve got the colder weather, which is going to really create additional challenges with the Delta variant. We’ve got holiday gatherings,” Mr. de Blasio said on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” where he announced the new mandate. “We in New York City have decided to use a pre-emptive strike to really do something bold to stop the further growth of Covid.”
According to the city's most recent labor statistics, the requirement will affect approximately 3.6 million private-sector jobs. Children ages 5 to 11 who have recently become eligible to be vaccinated against the virus will also be required to show proof of vaccination for indoor dining, entertainment, and fitness.
The mandate is set to go into effect just days before Mayor-elect Eric Adams takes over for Mr. de Blasio.
"When he takes office, the Mayor-elect will evaluate this mandate and other Covid strategies and make decisions based on science, efficacy, and the advice of health professionals," Evan Thies, a spokesman for Mr. Adams, said in a statement Monday.
The Biden administration's new federal rules require employers with at least 100 employees to require employees to be vaccinated against Covid-19 or test negative for it on a weekly basis, as well as wear a mask in the workplace. Last month, however, a federal appeals court temporarily halted the rules' implementation. Small-business owners say they are already planning for the potential new rules, which could go into effect on January 4.
Mr. de Blasio stated on Monday that he is confident the city's new mandate will withstand any legal challenges "because it is universal."
"I don't know all the complexities of what the Biden administration has been through, but I do know this: Our Health Commissioner has imposed a number of mandates." "They have won every single time in court, state court, federal court," Mr. de Blasio told MSNBC.
In August, the city began requiring proof of vaccination for certain indoor activities, such as going to the gym or eating in restaurants.
The latest move comes as the number of newly reported Covid-19 cases in the city and country rises as the highly contagious Delta variant spreads.
According to the most recent data from the city's health department, the seven-day average of daily confirmed and probable Covid-19 cases was 1,589 as of Dec. 3. This was higher than the previous week's seven-day average of 1,423 cases and 882 a month ago. According to the department, nearly 78 percent of New York City residents have received at least one vaccine dose, and 70 percent are fully vaccinated.
Last week, New York State announced the discovery of five Covid-19 cases linked to the new Omicron variant, four of which were in New York City residents. The variant has been found in several states, indicating that it is widespread in the United States.
Researchers and health officials have been scrambling to figure out how Omicron might affect people, drugs, and vaccines. According to the World Health Organization, preliminary evidence suggests that people who have previously been infected with Covid-19 are at a higher risk of re-infection with Omicron than with other variants. The variant may also be more transmissible than others, according to the WHO.
According to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University, the seven-day average for newly reported Covid-19 cases is currently around 120,000 per day, as cases continue to rise following the Thanksgiving holiday. That holiday disrupted state Covid-19 reporting, resulting in an artificial drop in cases, which is frequently followed by a catch-up in reporting, which can boost numbers.