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Unvaccinated officers at the New York Police Department will be required to wear masks on duty or face disciplinary action, the department confirmed Friday.
Why it matters: Public and private entities are increasingly considering reinstating mask mandates amid a surge in Delta cases. Mayor Bill de Blasio announced last month that all city employees, including law enforcement, must get vaccinated or submit to weekly testing.
Details: "As per Mayoral Executive Order 74, members of the service who wish to remove their face coverings in the workplace must be fully vaccinated and provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination to the Medical Division," a department spokesperson said in an emailed statement.
- If a member does not have proof of vaccination on file with the medical division, they must wear a mask indoors and outdoors at all times, including while in department vehicles.
- They are allowed to temporarily remove their masks while eating or drinking. Adjusting the mask due to temperatures or breathing difficulties is also considered "reasonable," per the statement.
- Members in the rank of sergeant or above are tasked with enforcing the policies. The statement did not specify what kind of disciplinary action would occur if a member violated the rule.
Worth noting: All officers regardless of vaccination status must wear a mask while engaging members of the public or in elevators, the policy added.
The big picture: NYPD had administered vaccines to roughly 43% of police officers and professional support staff as of July 21, though that number doesn't take into account people who may have gotten the vaccine elsewhere, according to an NBC affiliate.
- Over 11,000 members of the force have tested positive for COVID since the start of the pandemic.
Editor's note: This story has been updated with the NYPD's emailed confirmation.