New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared a State of Emergency and called in the National Guard to replace 72,000 unvaccinated healthcare workers who were terminated at midnight.
Hochul deployed thousands of “medically trained” National Guard troops to staff hospitals in the state after 72,000 healthcare workers were fired for missing the deadline to get vaccinated.
Hochul signed an executive order on Monday evening, allowing the National Guard to replace the terminated hospital staff.
“The only way we can move past this pandemic is to ensure that everyone eligible is vaccinated, and that includes those who are taking care of our vulnerable family members and loved ones,” Gov. Hochul said.
In New York, 84% of hospital workers are vaccinated. But Hochul said that’s not enough.
“I will be signing an executive order to give me the emergency powers necessary to address these shortages where they occur,” Hochul said during an appearance in the Bronx.
The National Guard troops will fill in for understaffed hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes.
It isn’t clear who will fill the jobs vacated by the National Guard troops.
According to CDC statistics, over 74% of Black NY residents are unvaccinated.
On Sunday, Gov. Hochul told the congregation at the Brooklyn-based Christian Cultural Center that the mRNA vaccine is God’s answer to “our prayers.”
“I prayed a lot to God during this time and you know what, God did answer our prayers,” she said.
“He made the smartest men and women, the scientists, the doctors, the researchers — He made them come up with a vaccine. That is from God to us and we must say, thank you, God. Thank you.”
Hochul urged the congregation to become her “apostles” by encouraging others to get their shots.
“I need you to be my apostles. I need you to go out and talk about it and say, we owe this to each other. We love each other. Jesus taught us to love one another and how do you show that love but to care about each other enough to say, please get the vaccine because I love you and I want you to live, I want our kids to be safe when they’re in schools, I want to be safe when you go to a doctor’s office or to a hospital and are treated by somebody, you don’t want to get the virus from them. You’re already sick or you wouldn’t be there.”
She added that the vaccinated are “the smart ones” and the unvaccinated “aren’t listening to God and what God wants.”
Hochul, who is a Democrat, became governor on August 24 after her predecessor, Andrew Cuomo, also a Democrat, resigned in disgrace.
Twitter responded to Hochul deploying the National Guard to replace experienced nurses and doctors.
Last year: healthcare heroes
This year: you're fired.— Liz Wheeler (@Liz_Wheeler) September 28, 2021
They don’t want you asking why so many healthcare workers are refusing the mandate
— Jack Posobiec ?? (@JackPosobiec) September 28, 2021
The moment you surrender control of your body in order to participate in society you are no longer a free citizen
— George Papadopoulos (@GeorgePapa19) September 27, 2021
Yes because soldiers with CPR training can replace nurses and doctors ?????
— Diamond Hands (@Lombardo555) September 27, 2021
Clearly about compliance and not safety. These unvaccinated people worked for the last year and a half but suddenly they are no good.
— Average (@AvgOpinion) September 27, 2021
Really – the same unvaccinated people that looked after the sick for almost a year in 2020? But it was ok then
— James Torode (@nice2cu2cunice) September 27, 2021
“Medically trained” but don’t necessarily have the license or credentials to work in those positions. ?
— Glenn (@nmtglenn) September 27, 2021
New York Governor Kathy Hochul will be fired by the voters in the upcoming election.
— Daniel Haug (@hauda01) September 27, 2021
So take a medic from their civilian day job to another medic job. Who fills the NG’s civilian jobs???
— RobZ28Z71 (@RobZ28Z71) September 27, 2021
Yes, it begins. Finally. Now, we’re only waiting on vaccine passports for all events and travel, so life can get back to normal.
— Vaccines Are Safe ? (@SafeToVaccinate) September 27, 2021