NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� 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.
鈥淭he only way to patronize these establishments indoors will be if you鈥檙e vaccinated,鈥� de Blasio said. 鈥淭he goal here is to convince everyone that this is the time. If we鈥檙e going to stop the delta variant, the time is now. And that means getting vaccinated right now.鈥�
The Democrat said some details still need to be worked out, including rules affecting children under 12, who are not yet eligible for any of the approved vaccines. 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 .
De Blasio said Monday he was making 鈥渁 strong recommendation鈥� that but stressed that the city鈥檚 鈥渙verwhelming strategic thrust鈥� remained getting more people vaccinated.
Asked Tuesday about a mask mandate, de Blasio said all options were on the table but reiterated that the city's policy is 鈥渧accine-centric.鈥�
鈥淩ight now what we want to nail is people getting vaccinated, and, very bluntly, showing that life is much better when you鈥檙e vaccinated," he added. 鈥淵ou can do so much more when you鈥檙e vaccinated. You have more freedom when you鈥檙e vaccinated, and you have a lot less, you have fewer choices, fewer opportunities if you're not vaccinated.鈥�
The mayor announced last week by mid-September or to face weekly testing, and he has offered a $100 incentive for city residents who get inoculated.
De Blasio said Tuesday that he did not think checking vaccination status should be too difficult for businesses, which already have to take tickets or show diners to a table.
But Sean Ogs, manager of the Woodside Cafe in Queens, said he was 鈥渇loored鈥� when he heard the news.
鈥淲e鈥檝e already been in a struggle. I don鈥檛 know how I鈥檓 going to deal with it,鈥� Ogs said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be extra work. It鈥檒l make things impossible.鈥�
Debbie McCarthy, a regular at the Woodside Cafe who is unvaccinated, said she was turned away over the weekend from several establishments that had already begun requiring proof of vaccinations from patrons.
鈥淚鈥檓 a little shocked they would do that,鈥� said McCarthy, who said she recovered from COVID-19 a few months ago and believes her natural antibodies will protect from future infections. 鈥淲hy are they so afraid of people who haven鈥檛 been vaccinated? I think we should have a choice."
Scientists recommend vaccination for people who have had the virus, saying would last.
Andrew Rigie, executive director of the NYC Hospitality Alliance, a restaurant group, said he supports the new policy.
鈥淢andating vaccine requirements for restaurant and bar employees and customers to work and dine indoors is a very difficult step, but ultimately may prove an essential move to protecting public health and ensuring that New York City does not revert to restrictions and shut down orders that would again absolutely devastate small businesses that have not yet recovered from the pandemic," Rigie said in a statement.
Major performances venues including Broadway theaters and the Metropolitan Opera have already announced that vaccinations will be required for patrons.
About 66% of adults in New York City are fully vaccinated, according to official data.
On Monday, the U.S. reached President Joe Biden鈥檚 goal of 鈥� a month late and amid a surge by the delta variant that is overwhelming hospitals and prompting renewed pandemic regulations around the country.
Karen Matthews And Bobby Caina Calvan, The Associated Press
