#North Carolina hospital fires 175 workers over COVID vaccine mandate

A North Carolina hospital system said it has terminated about 175 workers in what has been one of the largest mass-firings in the country over COVID-19 vaccine mandate compliance.

Novant Health Spokesperson Megan Rivers said Monday that around 200 of the 375 employees who were suspended last week over the vaccine rules had come into compliance by its Friday deadline.

More than 99 percent of the health system’s employees are now compliant with the vaccine mandate, including those who have submitted an approved religious or medical vaccine exemption, the company said.

“I am thrilled that the vast majority of team members gave Novant Health’s patients and visitors, as well as our team members, better protection against COVID-19 by complying with our vaccination mandate,”  President and CEO Carl Armato said in a statement, CNN reported.

The Winston-Salem-based system employs more than 35,000 workers in its 15 hospitals, 800 clinics and hundreds of outpatient facilities.

The health system didn’t say how many exemptions have been granted to employees.

Employees who have an approved vaccine exemption are required to submit to weekly COVID-19 testing, wear N95 masks and eye protection while working on the premises.

Those who have gotten only their first of a two-dose vaccine have until Oct. 15 to get the second dose, the healthcare system said.

The terminations come after President Biden announced vaccine or testing requirements on federal workers, health care staff and employers with over 100 workers.

Meanwhile, hundreds of unvaccinated health care workers across New York were suspended Tuesday and put at risk of facing dismissal.

With Post wires