NYC To Require Proof Of COVID-19 Vaccination For Restaurants & Bars

Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) has announced that businesses in New York City will be required to ask for proof of at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine starting mid-August. This is part of the mayor’s initiative to get more of the city vaccinated, where currently 66% of adults are fully vaccinated.

The mandate will require people to show their vaccine card before entering the premises of a restaurant, bar, club, gym and other establishments.

De Blasio has already required “all persons newly hired for employment by any City agency must provide proof of having received at least one dose of an approved COVID-19 vaccine prior to beginning their employment, except for those who obtain an exception due to medical or religious reasons through the reasonable accommodation process.”

De Blasio hopes this mandate will encourage people, especially young people to get vaccinated. The mayor told MSNBC about his experience as a father of two twenty-year-olds, “young people don’t want to be left out of restaurants, bars, concerts. This is the kind of thing that’s going to inspire a lot of young people to just get out there and get vaccinated.”

This news comes after some cities, such as Los Angeles, have decided to bring back certain mask regulations. The CDC has also announced that vaccinated people in high-risk areas should return to wearing masks.

The New York Teacher Union has responded that they are strongly opposed to a vaccination mandate.

“We have advocated since the beginning of the year that any educator who wants a vaccine should have easy access to one,” the union said in a statement. “We would support local efforts to encourage more vaccinations, such as through programs that require that those who are not vaccinated get tested on a regular basis. But it’s critical that districts come up with plans to make testing available on-site and at no cost. What we have not supported is a vaccine mandate.”

Other organizations, such as the Department of Veteran Affairs, have already required some of its employees to get vaccinated. The DOJ has announced businesses can require proof of vaccine from their employees.