Here in New York, thousands of hospital and nursing home workers rushed to get their first COVID-19 shots ahead of a vaccine mandate deadline of midnight on Monday. New York health officials say the late surge means at least 92% of healthcare workers have received at least one dose. Those who’ve refused face unpaid leaves of absence or termination. Governor Kathy Hochul said she’s prepared to deploy the National Guard to help fill any staffing shortages.

Gov. Kathy Hochul: “Today is a significant deadline. It reflects my priority to stop this virus dead in its tracks. We are over it. We are done. We want to move on. And the only way we can do that is to ensure that everyone is vaccinated, but particularly individuals who are taking care of the people who are sick.”

On Monday, a three-judge federal appeals court panel ruled that New York City may proceed with a vaccine mandate for nearly all public school workers.