A federal appeals judge temporarily blocked the enforcement of a coronavirus vaccination mandate in New York City schools for their teachers and other workers days before it takes effect.
Workers in the nation’s largest school system would be required to present proof of vaccination starting Monday. But on Friday night, a judge with the 2nd Circuit Federal Court of Appeals granted a temporary restraining order requested by a group of teachers before a three-judge panel reviews the motion on Wednesday.
Education Department spokeswoman Danielle Filson said authorities were seeking a speedy resolution in court.
“We are confident that our vaccination mandate will continue to be upheld once the facts have been presented, because that is the level of protection that our students and staff deserve,” Filson said in an email.
The New York Post reported that the department sent an email to school principals on Saturday morning stating that “they should continue to prepare for the possibility that the vaccination mandate will take effect later in the week.”
Mayor Bill de Blasio announced in August that nearly 148,000 school employees would have to have at least the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by September 27. The measure covers teachers and other staff, such as janitors and cafeteria workers.
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