A federal judge in Utica ruled on Tuesday that New York must continue to allow a religious exemption for health care workers who choose not to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
A lawsuit challenging the state mandate is underway, brought by 17 doctors and nurses from downstate and from Syracuse who say their rights will be violated if they are not allowed the exemption. Judge David Hurd issued a temporary injunction against enforcing the mandate in cases of religious objections. His followup ruling means the state is still barred from enforcing the mandate.