By Suzie Ziegler
NEW YORK — As the COVID-19 Omicron variant tears through New York City, the NYPD is once again asking its members to mask up.
According to CBS New York, the department on Monday ordered all members to wear a face mask in shared indoor spaces – vaccinated or not. NYPD employees also must wear a mask whenever interacting with the public, both outdoors and indoors. There are exceptions for eating and drinking.
The policy change comes amid an uptick in officers calling out sick, according to CNN. An unnamed NYPD official told CNN that 7.8% of the department was out sick as of Tuesday. It’s not clear if those out sick had COVID-19, but the usual number of officers out sick is around 3%, the official said.
According to CNN, the agency hasn’t outlined disciplinary action for not complying with mask guidelines.
“No one’s getting into trouble for not wearing one,” the NYPD official said. “But we’re all doing it.”