New York will issue its new mask use guide next week, says De Blasio – Telemundo New York (47)

What you should know

• The CDC released a new indoor mask guide for fully vaccinated people on Tuesday as the delta variant fuels an increase in COVID cases in the US, especially in places with low vaccination rates.
• Several cities and states have issued new vaccine or testing mandates or reinstated mask rules amid the surge in cases driven by the delta variant
• NYC has implemented a new vaccine or testing mandate for all city workers, while the governor says his administration is reviewing the latest CDC recommendations with federal and state experts.

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NEW YORK – New York City will have a new guide on indoor mask use early next week, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Thursday.

“We are going to provide more guidance early next week,” De Blasio said.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday that cities should “seriously consider” adopting the latest CDC guidance that everyone, even the vaccinated, wear masks indoors in many cases.

New York, like other states, has seen a growing number of coronavirus cases related to the delta variant: New infections have risen 150% and hospitalizations have risen 69% in the past two weeks.

“What we’re seeing is a pandemic among unvaccinated people, but it affects everyone,” Cuomo said in a Zoom presentation to a business group.

(The CDC map below shows county-by-county transmission rates across the country; red and orange counties are the affected areas. As of 3:30 p.m. on July 27, that included most of the coastline of New Jersey, New York and Long Island).

Cuomo said COVID-19 vaccines would be mandatory for workers “facing the patient” in state hospitals and veteran’s homes. Those employees couldn’t avoid vaccinations by getting weekly virus tests. The state has large hospitals in Syracuse, New York, and Long Island.

New York is the first state to require COVID-19 vaccination for state hospital workers without allowing them to opt out of testing.

New York State regulations already require hospital workers to be vaccinated against measles and rubella.

The Cuomo administration said about 130,000 state employees would be affected. Cuomo’s office did not immediately respond to questions about who will pay for testing for unvaccinated workers and possible penalties for workers who do not want it.

The Democrat said his administration still needed to speak with union leaders about how to implement the policy. Some unions representing government workers in New York City have opposed the city’s “get vaccinated or tested” mandate that takes effect in mid-September.

While overall infection rates in New York remain much lower than during the winter, the voluntary vaccination campaign here has stalled, as it has in much of the United States.

Approximately 56.7% of the 20 million inhabitants are fully vaccinated.

Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Wednesday that New York City will sweeten the pot by offering $ 100 to any city resident who receives a first dose of a coronavirus vaccine at a city-run site.

New York City and the state have already offered vaccination incentives that include lottery tickets, scholarships, free subway rides, and complimentary tickets to museums, sports games, and other attractions.

Other places, including the state of New Mexico and the city of Gadsden, Alabama, have also offered cash payments of $ 100. Others have offered a more limited version: Ohio offers $ 100 gift cards to Medicaid members who get vaccinated, and West Virginia offers $ 100 savings bonds to people ages 16-35 who do.

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