- New York City will be the first major U.S. city to require proof of vaccination against COVID-19 for entry into restaurants, gyms and other businesses
- With vaccines being widely available, political leaders are countering the latest surge in cases by encouraging people to get vaccinated and wear masks, instead of ordering the public to remain home and forcing businesses to close
- New York City’s policy, which stipulates the need for proof of at least one vaccine dose and will be enforced starting 13th September, will likely meet stiff resistance
NEW YORK CITY, New York: New York City will be the first major U.S. city to require proof of vaccination against COVID-19 for entry into restaurants, gyms and other businesses, Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Tuesday, as the country struggles with the fast-spreading Delta variant.
With vaccines being widely available, political leaders are countering the latest surge in cases by encouraging people to get vaccinated and wear masks, instead of ordering the public to remain home and forcing businesses to close.
The federal government and several states, along with some hospitals and universities, already require employees to be vaccinated. Tyson Foods is one of the largest private employers requiring workers to be immunized against the virus, which has killed over 600,000 Americans.
New York City’s policy, which stipulates the need for proof of at least one vaccine dose and will be enforced starting 13th September, will likely meet stiff resistance.
According to local data, some 60 percent of New Yorkers have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. But certain areas, mainly poor neighborhoods and communities of color, have much lower vaccination rates.
The city’s announcement came as cases are surging around the country. Big Tech companies, such as Google and Facebook, have announced that all U.S. employees must be vaccinated before returning to their offices.
