New York City will require proof of vaccination to attend indoor entertainment venues. Mayor Bill de Blasio made the announcement Tuesday. In addition to that, restaurants and gyms will also require the same thing. The new requirement will start in August. It 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.
“If you’re unvaccinated, unfortunately, you will not be able to participate in many things. If you want to participate in our society fully, you’ve got to get vaccinated. The only way to patronize these establishments is if you are vaccinated, at least one dose. The same for folks in terms of work, they will need at least one dose.”
In fact, the mayor will also require city workers to get vaccinated or to face weekly testing, and he has offered a $100 incentive for the public.
In New York City, about 55% of residents are fully vaccinated according to city data. Even though that number doesn’t seem particularly high, it is higher than the total vaccination rate in the US, which stands at around 50%. About 66% of NYC residents have received at least one dose. However, this seems to be insufficient protection against the delta variant. Fully vaccinated people are best protected against the worst outcomes of Covid-19 caused by the delta variant. Still, there’s a sharp drop in the efficacy if an individual has only had one dose of a two-dose vaccine.
Stay tuned for more news on New York City!