One hundred more Kaleida Health workers have been let go because they did not follow the state vaccine mandate.

Kaleida required employees who had previously received a religious exemption to provide proof of their first vaccine mandate by Sunday. The mandate was first announced in September.

"We continue to consult with our physician leadership as well as surgical leadership teams to manage the number of elective inpatient surgeries on a daily basis that require an overnight stay," Dr. Michael Mineo, chief medical officer for Buffalo General Medical Center and Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital, said. "This will ensure that, as a health system, we are appropriately managing patient care and community need amid this current surge in COVID-19 cases."

A New York State Supreme Court judge granted a partial restraining order, a ruling that allowed religious exemptions, until it was rejected by the U.S. Court of Appeals.

Workers who had not received that exemption had until November 22 to show proof.

A total of 200 Kaleida Health employees have been let go.

"The message can't be stressed enough to protect yourself, protect your family and protect this community because our systems are strained," Dr. Mineo said. "Please … wear a mask. Get vaccinated. We need to work together as a community to battle through this."

A spokesperson for Kaleida says that Kaleida Health intends to remain open and provide access to services across the organization.