NYC Issues Warning to Those Faking Sick Over Covid Vax Mandate; 9K on Unpaid Leave | News 4 Now

New York City’s controversial vaccine mandate for its entire municipal workforce takes effect Monday -- and despite concerns tens of thousands could be on unpaid leave, leading to critical staff shortages, Mayor Bill de Blasio says no disruptions to city services are expected. The five boroughs have been bracing for that possibility of shortages, with union heads warning with near-certainty of imminent catastrophe, since the Democrat announced last month that starting Nov. 1, any public employees who fail to provide proof of at least one COVID vaccine dose will lose their paychecks. But as the deadline came, de Blasio said fire, police and EMS response times were normal. Eighteen of 350 (5%) firehouses citywide were temporarily out of service, which could be the case on any given day for maintenance or repair work. Sanitation workers picked up trash on a Sunday, which they typically don’t do.