The order went into effect Nov. 1, and City Manager Edward M. Augustus Jr . said that of those scheduled to work Monday, 93% of city employees were in compliance.
"We had a very good day today. As of today, 75% of the city workforce is vaccinated, and 12% presented a negative COVID test," Augustus said.
The mandate applies to the 1,854 people employed by the city, not including Worcester schools. The numbers don't account for the entire workforce, only those who reported to work Monday, as some were on leave due to sickness, vacation, or difference in shift timings.
Augustus also said some people had called for an exemption for varying reasons, such as military leave, being quarantined due to exposure to the virus, or because they currently are diagnosed with COVID-19.
Augustus said the city expects to have more information about vaccination and compliance numbers by Friday, including departmental breakdowns. He confirmed last week that city employees who refused to comply for more than 30 days would be let go.
Vaccine mandates have been a point of contention around the country among law enforcement and first responders such as firefighters and health care workers.
Gov. Charlie Baker announced in August that in order to keep their jobs, all state workers would have to get vaccinated or get approved for an exemption by Oct. 17.
On Oct. 23 , the State Police Association of Massachusetts said a dozen of their officers were going to lose their jobs because of Baker's policy.
The city's policy was announced during an emergency order issued on Sept. 17 that reinstated indoor masking after COVID-19 cases had risen for 10 consecutive cases.
By Oct. 22 , cases had been in decline for five weeks straight but city officials urged caution and asked residents to get booster shots and flu shots. It was reported 453 people had died of COVID-19 by that date, and they were commemorated with a rose each outside City Hall.
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