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FILE PHOTO: Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough delivers remarks during a press briefing at the White House in Washington, U.S., March 4, 2021. REUTERS/Tom Brenner/File Photo
Updated July 26, 2021 at 5:24 PM ET
Across the country, officials are rolling out new requirements for mandatory vaccines for public employees — and the possibility of penalties if they fail to comply — as cases of the delta variant of the coronavirus rise sharply and vaccination rates stall.
The announcements came in quick succession on Monday in the country's most populous city and state. In New York City, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced all city workers would have to either get vaccinated or tested weekly for the virus. In California, Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a similar policy for state employees and health care workers.