NY Gov. Hochul will bribe families with free ski tickets in return for vaccinating their kids aged five to 11
- Hochul announced a six-week sweepstakes 'Ski for Free' Covid-19 vaccine sweepstakes for children ages five to 11 that also includes booster shot
- This comes a day after New York City began requiring all children aged over five to show proof of vaccination against COVID to enter restaurants and theaters
- The governor is offering families free tickets to state ski resorts in an effort to incentivize parents to get their young children vaccinated
- Last Friday Hochul announced that masks will be required in all indoor public places unless the businesses or venues implement a vaccine requirement
New York Governor Kathy Hochul is offering free ski tickets to holdout parents who refuse to comply with New York City's controversial mandate that kids aged five to 11 must be vaccinated to enter most businesses in the city.
The Democrat, who stepped in for sex-pest Gov. Andrew Cuomo after he resigned in August, announced a six-week sweepstakes called 'Ski for Free' on Wednesday, a day after she took heat for reinstating a mask mandate for private businesses.
'The 'Ski for Free' sweepstakes for children and booster recipients allows New Yorkers to take full advantage of our state's incredible ski areas while at the same time boosting our vaccination numbers to fight the winter surge,' Hochul said.
'By getting vaccinated and a booster dose, you can protect yourself and those around you from getting seriously ill due to COVID-19. Don't delay.'
The city's vaccination rate for children aged five to 11 is at 31 percent - after the FDA approved the Pfizer vaccine for that age group on Nov. 3.
Governor Kathy Hochul is offering ski tickets to families in order to get them to vaccinate their kids aged 5-11
Mayor Bill de Blasio mandated that children between five and 11 years old must be vaccinated to enter most NYC businesses
New Yorkers will be able to enter a random drawing for free lift tickets to a variety of mountains and resorts for the 2021-2022 winter season, including the Four Seasons Ski Center (pictured)
The first Ski for Free drawing will be on January 4, 2022, and offers lift tickets to a variety of mountains and resorts for the winter season.
The sweepstakes comes after the December 14 deadline set by Mayor Bill de Blasio that requires those aged five to 11 to show proof of at least their first COVID vaccination to enter 'indoor dining, fitness, entertainment and performance venues'.
They must also provide proof of vaccination to participate in certain extra-curricular school events.
After Christmas, a second proviso of the policy kicks in, with all New Yorkers aged 12 and older required to show proof of two vaccine doses, instead of one, from December 27.
'We want to protect everyone,' said the lame-duck mayor.
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De Blasio leaves office at the end of the month. His successor, Eric Adams, has been noncommittal about his plans.
De Blasio's decision was welcomed by some, who saw it as a powerful tool to protect all amid a rise in cases.
Citywide, only 78.6 percent of residents have had at least their first vaccine shot.
In Manhattan, the figure rises to 88 percent, but on Staten Island and in the Bronx - the two boroughs with the lowest vaccination rate - the level falls to 73 per cent.
Among young people from 13 to 17 years of age, 82 percent have had at least one dose.
New York City has a 3.56 percent COVID positive rate - a trend that is increasing.
Hospitalizations remain stable and deaths decreasing, but those are lagging indicators.
The figures for children aged 5-11 with confirmed COVID cases was unavailable, but New York City's public schools on Tuesday reported that 336 students out of a 1.1 million enrolled, and 122 staff members, were positive.
On Tuesday, the U.S. death toll from COVID-19 surpassed 800,000.
Last Friday Hochul announced that masks will be required in all indoor public places unless the businesses or venues implement a vaccine requirement.
As of December 13, businesses in New York are forced to either check the vaccination status of employees and customers entering the building, or force everyone to wear a mask.
The order is scheduled to end on January 15, 2022.
Each violation of the rule will carry a maximum $1,000 fine, a press release from the governors office said.
According to the order, if a business opts for the vaccine requirement, employees and patrons must be 14 days removed from the final shot of a COVID-19 vaccine sequence - either the second shot of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines or the first shot of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
Mask requirements will apply to all patrons two years or older.
The mandate would apply to office workspaces as well.
Local health departments around the state will be responsible for enforcing the new mandates.
Hochul cited the rising cases in the state as reason for the move, along with the new threat of the Omicron variant - for which New York is the leader in sequenced cases.
It comes days after New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced drastic measure to combat the spread of Covid, including vaccine mandates for private sector employees.
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