|
 The department issued the bulletin spelling out the order earlier
this week, said Sergeant Edward Riley, an NYPD spokesman. The order
came in response to a lagging vaccination rate among NYPD officers
at a time when the Delta variant has fueled a surge of COVID-19
infections and hospitalizations across the country.
Among New York police officers, the current vaccination rate is
about 47%, Riley said in an emailed response to questions from
Reuters. That falls well short of the 68% rate for all adult New
Yorkers who are fully vaccinated, according to city data.
"Since vaccinations became available we have encouraged our
employees, especially those who have contact with the public, to get
vaccinated," Riley said, adding that the order also applies to
civilian employees of the department.
All members of the force are required to wear a face covering when
interacting with the public, regardless of vaccination status, the
order said.
Several officers, all unmasked, were seen patrolling outside an NYPD
precinct in the Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan just before noon on
Thursday. They declined to comment to Reuters when asked for their
thoughts on the order.
Two of the officers stood about a dozen feet away from a masked
civilian who was airing grievances about property that was allegedly
confiscated.
The NYPD bulletin said "appropriate disciplinary action will be
taken for unvaccinated members found not wearing a face covering
when required." But it did not specify possible punishments.
Police unions that represent NYPD members, including the Police
Benevolent Association of the City of New York, did not immediately
respond to a Reuters request for comment.
[to top of second column] |
 The United States recorded more
than 1,000 coronavirus deaths on Wednesday, the
second time in as many days the daily tally has
crossed that threshold, according to data
compiled by Reuters. The country last reported
that many daily deaths in March.
With Wednesday's count, the United States has averaged more than 800
deaths daily in the past seven days, a stretch not seen since April.
Hospitalizations are at the highest since February.
The NYPD, which has had 59 police officers die of COVID-19 since the
start of the pandemic, is not the only police department that is
requiring vaccinations for its officers.
In Denver, Mayor Michael Hancock set a deadline of Sept. 30 for full
vaccination for all city employees, including police officers. Masks
are optional only for those granted a medical or religious
exemption, Kelli Christensen, Denver Department of Public Safety
spokeswoman, said in an email.
In the small Midwest town of Venice, Illinois, population 1,890, the
entire police force has been infected with the virus and all six
full-time officers are quarantining, KMOV4 reported.
"My chief even has COVID-19 and he's sounding terrible," Mayor
Tyrone Echols told the news station.
The Venice Police Department declined to comment to Reuters and the
Madison County Sheriff's Department, which is reportedly covering
the area while the local officers are in quarantine, did not
immediately respond to a request for comment.
(Reporting by Tyler Clifford and Barbara Goldberg in New York;
Editing by Dan Grebler)
[© 2021 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2021 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content |
