New York Governor Kathy Hochul will offer ski tickets free of charge to parents who don’t comply with the controversial New York City mandate that all children between five and eleven years must be immunized in order for them to get into most New York City businesses.
The Democrat took over as sexpest Governor. Andrew Cuomo, who stepped in for the sex-pest governor after he quit in August, launched a 6-week sweepstakes called “Ski for Free” on Wednesday. It was just days after Cuomo faced criticism for her decision to reinstate a mandate for private companies for wearing masks.
Hochul stated that the ‘Ski for Free” sweepstakes for boosters and children allows New Yorkers the opportunity to enjoy the state’s amazing ski areas, while also increasing our vaccine numbers in order to combat the winter surge.
“By getting vaccinated with a booster dose and getting your annual vaccine, you can prevent yourself and others from becoming seriously ill by COVID-19. Don’t delay.’
Children aged 5-11 years old are now vaccinated in the city at 31%. This is after Pfizer was approved by the FDA on November 3.
Governor Kathy Hochul offers ski tickets for families to help them vaccinate their children aged 5-11 years old
Mayor Bill de Blasio required that all children under five years of age must be immunized in order for them to work at most NYC businesses.
New Yorkers can enter the random draw to win lift tickets for the winter 2021-2022 season at a number of resorts and mountains, including the Four Seasons Ski Center.
Ski for Free: The initial Ski for Free Drawing will take place on January 4, 2022. This drawing offers lift tickets to various mountains and resorts for winter.
The sweepstakes comes after the December 14 deadline set by Mayor Bill de Blasio that requires those aged five to 11 to show proof of at least their first COVID vaccination to enter ‘indoor dining, fitness, entertainment and performance venues’.
For certain school extra-curricular events they will need to show proof that they have been vaccinated.
A second condition of the policy is in effect after Christmas. All New Yorkers 12 years and over must show evidence of 2 vaccines instead of 1.
The lame-duck mayor said, “We want to defend everyone.”
De Blasio is retiring at the end the month. Eric Adams, his replacement, is non-committal regarding his plans.
De Blasio’s announcement was welcomed by many, as they saw it to be a powerful tool for protecting all in the face of an increase in cases.
In the city, only 78% of people have had their first vaccination.
Manhattan’s figure is 88 percent. However, it falls to 73% in Staten Island, and the Bronx, which are the two boroughs that have the lowest vaccine rates.
82% of young adults aged 13-17 years have received at least one dose.
New York City boasts a positive COVID rate of 3.56 percent, a trend which is growing.
While hospitalizations have remained stable and deaths are decreasing, those indicators are still not as reliable.
Although the data for confirmed COVID cases in children between 5 and 11 years of age was not available, New York City’s public schools reported on Tuesday that 336 out of a total of 1.1million enrolled students, as well as 122 staff, had been positive.
Tuesday’s death toll by COVID-19 in America surpassed 800,000.
Last Friday Hochul announced that masks will be required in all indoor public places unless the businesses or venues implement a vaccine requirement.
As of December 13, businesses in New York are forced to either check the vaccination status of employees and customers entering the building, or force everyone to wear a mask.
This order will expire on January 15, 2022.
A press release by the governor’s office stated that each violation will result in a $1,000 maximum fine.
According to the order, if a business opts for the vaccine requirement, employees and patrons must be 14 days removed from the final shot of a COVID-19 vaccine sequence – either the second shot of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines or the first shot of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
All patrons who are two years old or older will need to wear masks.
This mandate could also be applied to offices.
The new mandates will be enforced by local health departments in the state.
Hochul said that the reason for moving was the increase in cases within the state, as well the Omicron variant threat – New York being the leading city in sequential cases.
This comes just days after Bill de Blasio, New York City’s Mayor, announced that he would take drastic measures to stop the spread of Covid. He also mandated vaccines for employees in private sectors.