Metropolitan Transportation Authority and Port Authority workers will be required to be vaccinated by Labor Day or submit to weekly COVID-19 testing, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Monday.

At the same time, Cuomo urged public-facing workers in high-risk jobs like hospitals to be vaccinated and called on school districts to follow suit today. Mandatory vaccinations for nursing home workers and teachers may also be possible, Cuomo said, if COVID numbers continue to rise.

The announcement comes amid rising concerns over the spread of the delta variant and a sharp increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations in recent weeks.

"A mask policy won't be enough," Cuomo said.

Cuomo urged New Yorkers to get vaccinated, and implored the private sector to take a more muscular role in the effort by limiting their customers to the vaccinated population. Sports and performing arts venues have, in many instances, limited entry to vaccinated people or those who can show proof of a recent COVID-19 test coming back negative.

"Everybody has to get vaccinated," Cuomo said. "Private business, I am asking them and suggesting to them go to vaccine-only admission."

But the pace of vaccinations has slowed, months after millions of New Yorkers were eager to find ways of securing a highly coveted appointment to receive their shots. Officials have sought to induce vaccinations through prizes, lottery tickets and the chance to win free college tuition.  

Now, a more concerted effort is being made to reach out to the population of unvaccinated people as the pandemic enters yet another uncertain phase.

The Transport Works Union indicated it supports Cuomo's mandate that MTA employees either get vaccinated or submit to weekly testing.

"We strongly believe everyone should get vaccinated," Tony Utano, president of TWU Local 100, said in a statement. "It's the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones. Anyone who has concerns, should ask their doctor for advice. We will continue to urge members to get the shot and will work with the MTA to ensure testing options are widely available at work sites."

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last month advised fully vaccinated New Yorkers to wear masks indoors amid the spread of the highly contagious delta variant of COVID-19 in areas where there are high case counts.

Only weeks earlier, states and local governments shed pandemic-related restrictions on mask wearing indoors as well as limitations on public gatherings and businesses. But a rising case count and hospitalizations as well as stagnant rate of vaccinations in virtually every state of the country has led to public health officials to reassess.

Vaccinated people are far less likely to be hospitalized for the virus or die from it. Cuomo said 1.9 per 100,000 people hospitalized due to COVID-19 are vaccinated.

Still, the spread of the virus among vaccinated and unvaccinated people has led to enough concern for more restrictive guidances to be put back into place.

Cuomo also once again urged local governments to put mask requirements in place, calling on them to "show leadership."

"It is up to the local governments," Cuomo said. "CDC doesn't mandate local governments do it. The state has strongly recommended local governments do it."

Last week, Cuomo announced state government workers would be required to be fully vaccinated or be tested weekly by Labor Day. The announcement was met with a mixed reaction by labor unions, but embraced by top lawmakers in the state Legislature.

More testing sites will be opened for state workers, Cuomo said.