The mayor of the Bronx, Bill de Blasio, visited a mobile vaccine bus.
Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Monday that New York City will require all private sector employers to have a vaccine.
The mandate will take effect on December 27.
De Blasio told MSNBC Monday morning that the colder weather will create additional challenges for the delta variant. In New York City, we have decided to use a preemptive strike to stop the growth of Covid and the dangers it is causing.
The mayor said that the city will require proof of vaccine for children under the age of 11.
The omicron variant has been identified in eight cases in New York, seven in the New York City area and one in Suffolk County on Long Island.
According to the city health department, there are more than 1,500 new covid cases a day in New York City.
The New York City policy comes after the Biden administration was forced to stop the implementation and enforcement of national vaccine and testing requirements for businesses with 100 or more employees.
Public health officials are worried about a surge in Covid cases this winter from the delta variant as people gather inside to escape the winter chill. They are worried that the omicron variant could cause a spike in cases. The World Health Organization said last week that early data shows that omicron is more infectious than past versions.
It is not known whether omicron causes more severe disease. Mild to moderate symptoms have been shown by the people who have tested positive for omicron.
