NEW YORK – New York will be the first U.S. city to require proof of at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine to participate in many indoor activities, including restaurants, bars, movie theaters, museums and gyms, though it has not mandated indoor mask-wearing as some cities, counties and at least one state have done.
Mayor Bill de Blasio said residents and visitors over the age of 12 must show proof of vaccination, either by showing a vaccination card or the soon-to-be-available “Key to NYC Pass” mobile vaccine passport.
“NYC & Company supports the City’s decision to require vaccinations for indoor dining, indoor fitness, indoor entertainment and indoor performing arts. We believe this is a wise and responsible step that will ensure the safety of New Yorkers and visitors and give travelers more confidence in their decision to visit New York. We look forward to working with the local industry to navigate any challenges that may arise during implementation,” said Fred Dixon, Chairman and CEO of NYC & Company.
New York’s decision comes just after some trade shows required all attendees to be fully vaccinated.
Related. Trade shows begin requiring full vaccination
The mayor decided the best plan for the Big Apple was to focus on vaccinations rather than mandating indoor mask-wearing, which poses a threat to the city’s economic recovery from the pandemic shutdown in 2020. But encouraging mask-wearing is part of the strategy.
“We want to focus on vaccination, vaccination, vaccination,” Mr. de Blasio said. “We want to make a very clear distinction between all the good things, all the opportunities, all the positives that are going to be available to vaccinated people and an increasingly limited world for unvaccinated people. So that’s the strategic direction.”
The move appears to be working, as 15,440 people received their first shot as of Friday, according to the New York City Department of Health, the highest daily total since June 4.
And things are set to move quickly. Over the past seven days, COVID cases have averaged nearly 2,400 per day, up from about 650 cases per day reported in the city just a month ago. Because of the rapid increase in cases, New York City is under new CDC guidelines recommending mask-wearing in areas of high transmission.
Contact Fred Dixon at (212) 484-1200