'It is time' -NYC mayor increases vaccine mandate

“We have to move quickly. That’s why I’ve described the actions we’re taking today as a ‘pre-emptive strike’; get ahead of this problem before it deepens, and use the thing that works: vaccination.”

As the holidays and colder weather collide with the highly transmissible Omicron variant, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio is doubling down on the fight against COVID-19…

The mayor announcing Monday that starting December 27, all private-sector employers must ensure their workers have been fully vaccinated.

The mandate, de Blasio said, is the first of its kind in the nation.

“It is time. Look, this is how we put health and safety first – by ensuring there is a vaccine mandate that reaches everyone universally in the private sector.”

In addition, children 5 to 11 years old must get at least one vaccine dose by Dec. 14 to enter restaurants and to participate in extracurricular school activities, such as sports, band, orchestra and dance.

“Only one dose required. There’s time for parents to get that done.”

Patrons over the age of 12 must also be fully vaccinated in order to enter businesses after December 27.

The requirements come at a time when new coronavirus infections are accelerating nationwide, especially in northern states - and as the highly transmissible Omicron variant has spread to at least one-third of U.S. states.