New York City will require proof of vaccination to enter all restaurants, fitness centers and indoor entertainment venues, Mayor de Blasio announced this morning.
"If you're unvaccinated, unfortunately, you will not be able to participate in many things," de Blasio said, as reported by CNN. "If you want to participate in our society fully, you've got to get vaccinated."
The mandate will go into effect next month and apply to employees and customers.
Eater has more details on the program, dubbed "Key to NYC Pass."
"The program, which appears to be the first of its kind in the United States, will start on Aug. 16 with full enforcement beginning on Sept. 13."
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Yesterday, city and state officials recommended that New Yorkers start wearing masks indoors again — even if they have been fully vaccinated.
Said NYC Health Commissioner Dr. Dave Chokshi: "I am making a strong recommendation that everyone, regardless of vaccination status, wear a mask in public indoor settings. This is based on our review of the latest scientific evidence showing that the delta variant of the coronavirus can spread even more easily than previously thought."
However, Mayor de Blasio is not issuing a mask mandate at this time. "We want to emphasize vaccinations, vaccinations. That is the whole ballgame," he said yesterday, as reported by Gothamist.
In addition, Gov. Cuomo said that he is asking private businesses — including bars and restaurants — to require proof of vaccination as a condition for entry.NYC: Wear a mask to prevent the spread of #COVID19!
— nychealthy (@nycHealthy) August 2, 2021
😷 Masks are required on public transit and in hospitals, schools and congregate settings
😷 Unvaccinated people MUST wear a mask in all public settings
😷 Vaccinated people should wear a mask in ALL indoor public settings pic.twitter.com/ODG62pNLAC
"I am asking them, and suggesting to them, go to vaccine-only admission," Cuomo told reporters. "I believe it is in your best interest."
Meanwhile, before yesterday's announcements and recommendations, several East Village businesses had announced a change in their policies.
To eat inside at Yellow Rose, the Tex-Mex restaurant at 102 Third Ave. between 12th Street and 13th Street, diners must show proof of vaccination or a recent negative COVID-19 test. Outdoor seating will remain open to all diners.
Starting today, Nowon, the Korean restaurant at 507 E. Sixth St. between Avenue A and Avenue B, will only serve vaccinated patrons indoors. Outdoor tables will remain open for any guests.
The owners of Ruffian, the wine bar at 125 E. Seventh St. between Avenue A and First Avenue, and Kindred (pictured above), 342 E. Sixth St. just west of First Avenue, are suspending indoor dining until further notice. Their outdoor spaces will remain in service.
Eater is compiling a list of restaurants requiring proof of vaccination here.
The Anthology Film Archives, which reopens for in-person screenings on Thursday, had previously announced that only vaccinated (and masked) moviegoers will be allowed in for now at the theater on Second Avenue and Second Street. To see Stomp at the Orpheum Theatre on Second Avenue, guests 12 and over must show proof of vaccination.
Elsewhere, White Trash, specializing in mid-century modern furnishings at 304 E. Fifth St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue, requires vaccination proof for entry.
According to city data, 55 percent of all adult New Yorkers have been fully vaccinated; the number is 66 percent in Manhattan — and even higher in the 10002, 10003 and 10009 zip codes.
Given the delta variant and any others that emerge, more restaurants will likely shut down indoor dining and return to outdoor only. Glad we still have the option with the outdoor structures and sidewalk seating.
ReplyDeleteGood. Focusing on vaccinations and not masks is the right move.
ReplyDeleteDe Blasio is non-committed to saving lives and preventing the spread of the Delta variant of Covid-19. He and Cuomo have been licking their chops at the influx of alcohol tax dollars and the tourist $ who want to woo it up in our fine city. Mr Lame Duck will be gone soon and Adams is certain to pursue the same developer friendly policies of the past two mayors. I am wearing a mask again, and will not bitch about it as so many do comparing it to shackles or a ball and chain. Time to get the covidiots vaccinated or this fall / winter will be deadly.
ReplyDeleteAsking for a proof of vaccination OR a very recent negative test is fine. Asking only for proof of vaccination is not.
ReplyDeleteVaccinated only indoors, anyone outdoors seems like a good compromise. .
ReplyDeleteIndoor dining, going to the gym, seeing concerts or plays, these things are absolutely privileges, not rights. I am so glad that the city is mandating this. If you are eligible to be vaccinated and don't want to get it, no one is going to force you to. But you must give up certain privileges if you refuse to do your part to keep yourself and others safe. You can still go unvaxxed (and mostly unmasked, unfortunately) while on transportation, at doctor's offices, for outdoor dining and in grocery stores and pharmacies and even hairdressers and nail salons all around the city, so none of their necessities are being infringed upon, just their fun. Which sounds like a good compromise to me.
ReplyDeleteThis is good news. I have friends in the restaurant business who go to work every day fearing they are going to be infected by some idiot who hasn't been vaccinated.
ReplyDelete@11:43am: No, there is a mask REQUIREMENT for all public transit in NYC, and that requirement is in place even if you are vaccinated.
ReplyDeleteI know there is a REQUIREMENT. I wear a mask in all indoor places, as a vaccinated person. But if you've been on the train or bus lately, you'll know how many people are not abiding by it, unfortunately. Tecnically stores require unvaxxed patrons to wear masks, too, but I'd argue many do not. Either way, the unvaxxed can still get from a to b and feed and clothe and get medical attention anyway, which was my main argument.
DeleteFine by me. If all the frail Toisanese-speaking little old ladies of Chinatown who escaped ACTUAL oppression several decades ago can do it--and they have, 10002 has an ~80% vaccination rate!--spoiled New Yorkers can.
ReplyDeleteI never thought I'd say this but I finally agree with De Blasio on something, who is finally acting mayoral. The time for voluntary is over. Everyone is free to not get vaccinated if they choose, but businesses can choose not to employ those people, grocery stores can choose not to sell food to those people and, honestly, I don't think it's beyond consideration that the state can choose to revoke voting rights to those people. There can be no place in a free society for people who so recklessly put the lives of their fellow citizens in mortal danger. If you don't like it, leave!
ReplyDeleteOn August 3, Anonymous quoth:
ReplyDeleteBut if you've been on the train or bus lately, you'll know how many people are not abiding by it, unfortunately.
Oh, and I have pix. I'm vaxxed as of May, and I always wear a mask; why do these people think they're special? (Rhetorical question; I don't expect an answer.)