A hospital has been forced to stop delivering babies after dozens of staff chose to quit rather than get a mandatory Covid vaccine.

The maternity unit at Lewis County General Hospital in New York will temporarily close from September 25 until enough people who have been jabbed can be hired to safely reopen.

Lewis County Health System CEO Gerald Cayer said 27% of health workers at the hospital are unvaccinated, according to USA Today.

A total of 30 have handed in their notice, including seven from the maternity department.

More than 20 were employed in clinical positions, including nurses, therapists and technicians.

‘We are unable to safely staff the service after September 24,’ Mr Cayer warned.  

‘The number of resignations received leaves us no choice but to pause delivering babies at Lewis County General Hospital.

‘It is my hope that the Department of Health will work with us in pausing the service rather than closing the maternity department.’

And five other departments could also face a similar fate if more staff choose to quit over forced vaccination plans.

The mandatory vaccines are part of President Joe Biden’s six-point Covid action plan, including ordering teachers and health care workers to get the jab, in a bid to fight the Delta variant.

Former Governor Andrew Cuomo mandated that all health workers in New York state should get a vaccine by September 27.

Just 46% of people in Lewis County have had one or more dose of the vaccine, compared to a national average of 63%.

The county recorded 2,626 confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Friday. 

But Mr Cayer said essential services are not at risk.

‘The mandate ensures we will have a healthy workforce and we are not responsible for (causing COVID-19) transmission in or out of our facilities,’ he added.

The President said his administration intends to mandate vaccines in units that get Medicare or Medicaid reimbursement – which will apply to around 50,000 providers.

Mr Biden said of his plans: ‘This is not about freedom or personal choice.

‘It’s about protecting yourself and those around you.’

Staff across the US have been offered various incentives including thousands of dollars in bonuses to persuade them to get the vaccine.

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