New York City will soon require proof of COVID-19 vaccinations for anyone who wants to dine indoors at a restaurant, see a performance or go to the gym, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Tuesday, making it the first big city in the U.S. to impose such restrictions.
The new requirement, which will be phased in over several weeks in August and September, is the most aggressive step the city has taken yet to curb a surge in cases caused by the Delta variant. People will have to show proof that they have had at least one dose of a vaccine.
“The only way to patronize these establishments indoors will be if you’re vaccinated,” de Blasio said. “The goal here is to convince everyone that this is the time. If we’re going to stop the Delta variant, the time is now. And that means getting vaccinated right now.”
The Democrat said some details of how the program will work still need to be worked out. The policy will go into effect on Aug. 16 but inspections and enforcement won’t begin until Sept. 13, the week that the city’s public schools reopen for the fall.
Vaccination cards will be accepted as proof of inoculation, along with state and city apps.
De Blasio has focused on getting as many New Yorkers vaccinated as possible while resisting calls to mandate masks indoors, as several cities and counties in California have done.
De Blasio said Monday he was making “a strong recommendation” that everyone wear a mask in public indoor settings but stressed that the city’s “overwhelming strategic thrust” remained getting more people vaccinated.
The mayor announced last week that city employees would be required to get vaccinated by mid-September or to face weekly testing, and he has offered a $100 incentive for city residents who get inoculated.
About 66% of adults in New York City are fully vaccinated, according to official data.
On Monday, the U.S. reached President Joe Biden’s goal of getting at least one COVID-19 shot into 70% of American adult s — a month late and amid a surge by the delta variant that is overwhelming hospitals and prompting renewed pandemic regulations around the country.
(AP)
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9 Responses
Great news!
This animal thinks he is God. What gives him the authority? What will this do to our local businesses? What if the business owners themselves do not wish to vaccinate do they need to close down? Who is enforcing and how does the Jewish community know we will not be targeted unfairly? And more importantly, what’s next? No grocery shopping?
If we do not stand up and fight this, our liberty as American citizens and as American Jews is greatly at risk. Non compliance is the only answer. Don’t wait for it to get to the point where you find it uncomfortable.
And where are exemptions? Will people need to get doctor notes and bring them to their local restaurant if they can’t get the vaccine? Will pregnant women not be able to dine out if they’re not comfortable vaccinating? What if I already had Covid and don’t want the vaccine are there exemptions?
This is an onerous burden on business owners which will only lead to more loss of customers, employees, and ultimately, money.
It’s all fine we can avoid. The real problem is that it will likely snowball into not being able to buy food at the supermarket without vaccine or earning a living. Then we have a real issue.
This is annoying. Now I will have to borrow my friends vaccination card, alter it to my name, etc….. All of that just to eat out….
Great so now antivaxxers will know what it’s like to eat takeout and get online delivery just like everyone else did before the vaccine came out.
My New York City becomes 1930s Berlin. Nothing lasts forever.
What’s the big deal? Just say you are going in to vote and you won’t be required to show any proof of anything.
Stevenn above thinks Fascist rules are a great idea. Why don’t you, Stevenn, get your vaccines (either they work or they don’t) and your multiple masks (either they work or they don’t) and let everyone else live their lives. This is not Europe.
Also, I guess we can damn the children and the immunocompromised cancer patients or those that have recovered from Covid from participating in society – even in an N95 mask. This Diblasio Fascist can’t go quick enough.