In September, You’ll Need To Show Proof Of Vaccination For Indoor Public Spaces

With Covid cases on the rise thanks in large part to the Delta variant, the city is dipping into its arsenal to encourage residents to get vaccinated and to help cut down on the virus’s spread. Recently, Mayor de Blasio announced the city would be doling out $100 debit cards to every person who signed up for a first vaccine dose; on Tuesday, the city announced that showing proof of vaccination will be required for indoor dining, bars, gyms and at live performances.

Starting on September 13, you’ll need to show proof of vaccination before dining or drinking indoors, going to a gym or attending an indoor performance. You can use your vaccination card as proof, or sign up for the statewide Excelsior Pass or the forthcoming Key to NYC Pass, both of which you can download on your smartphone. The mandate will start rolling out ahead of its official enforcement deadline to give establishments time to prepare, as well as to allow for new vaccine recipients to gain immunity, which takes five to six weeks after the first dose of an mRNA vaccine.

De Blasio has also asked residents to follow the CDC recommendations that all persons, regardless of vaccination status, wear masks inside public spaces as the Delta virus spreads. That recommendation has not yet translated into a mask mandate for NYC, but it’s still a good idea to mask up to protect yourself, your family and your fellow New Yorkers. 

photo: Governor Cuomo/Flickr