# New York becomes first U.S. city to mandate COVID vaccines to enter restaurants, gyms
Author:  Pal Sinha, Barnali 
Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali
Published: 2021-08-03
Category: NEWS
Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news
Meta Title: New York City Mandates Proof of Vaccination Amid Delta
Meta Description: New York City becomes the first major U.S. city to require proof of COVID vaccination for customers and staff at restaurants, gyms, and other indoor businesses
URL: https://financedigest.com/new-york-becomes-first-u-s-city-to-mandate-covid-vaccines-to-enter-restaurants-gymshtml

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By Maria Caspani

NEW YORK (Reuters) -New York City will become the first major U.S. city to require proof of [COVID vaccination for customers and staff](https://www.financedigest.com/the-icu-is-full-medical-staff-on-frontline-of-chinas-covid-fight-say-hospitals-are-overwhelmed.html "‘The ICU is full’: medical staff on frontline of China’s COVID fight say hospitals are ‘overwhelmed’") at restaurants, gyms and other indoor businesses as the country enters a new phase of battling the highly contagious Delta variant.

The announcement is the latest in a string of [initiatives aimed at encouraging more residents to get vaccinated](https://www.financedigest.com/fda-advisers-back-the-same-covid-vaccine-for-initial-shots-boosters.html "FDA advisers back the same COVID vaccine for initial shots, boosters") as the Delta variant spreads in the nation’s most populous city. (Graphic of U.S. cases) https://tmsnrt.rs/2WTOZDR

We know this is what’s going to [turn the tide,”](https://www.financedigest.com/is-the-tide-turning-for-chinese-brands-overseas.html "IS THE TIDE TURNING FOR CHINESE BRANDS OVERSEAS?") de Blasio told a news conference.

About 60% of all New Yorkers have received at least one dose of the [COVID-19 vaccine](https://www.financedigest.com/factbox-countries-making-covid-19-vaccines-mandatory-2.html "Factbox-Countries making COVID-19 vaccines mandatory"), according to city data. But certain areas, largely [poor](https://www.financedigest.com/are-corporations-poor-accounts-payable-practices-putting-britains-sme-community-at-risk.html "Are corporations’ poor accounts payable practices putting Britain’s SME community at risk?") communities and communities of color, have lower vaccination rates.

The [policy will be enforced](https://www.financedigest.com/ipc-introduces-industrys-first-compliance-policy-engine-automating-proactive-financial-communications-rule-enforcement.html "IPC introduces industry’s first compliance policy engine, automating proactive financial communications rule enforcement") starting Sept. 13. It is similar to measures taken in France to curtail the spread of coronavirus.

As part of the initiative, the [city is creating the “Key to NYC Pass” to provide](https://www.financedigest.com/keysource-to-provide-critical-facilitiesmanagement-support-for-leeds-city-council.html "KEYSOURCE TO PROVIDE CRITICAL FACILITIESMANAGEMENT SUPPORT FOR LEEDS CITY COUNCIL") proof of vaccination to workers and patrons at fitness centers, restaurants and entertainment venues, the mayor said.

The announcement [comes on the heels of several steps taken by city](https://www.financedigest.com/buyers-shun-city-centres-for-country-villas-when-it-comes-to-lifestyle-investment-in-iberia.html "BUYERS SHUN CITY CENTRES FOR COUNTRY VILLAS WHEN IT COMES TO LIFESTYLE INVESTMENT IN IBERIA") officials to encourage still reluctant residents to get their shots, including a mandate for city employees to get vaccinated or face weekly testing.

On Monday, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo had urged bars, restaurants and other [private businesses](https://www.financedigest.com/the-new-wifi-how-private-5g-networks-could-revolutionise-business.html "The New WiFi? How Private 5G Networks Could Revolutionise Business") to require that customers be vaccinated before they can enter.

De Blasio, however, has stopped short of mandating face coverings in public indoor settings, saying instead it was strongly recommended.

The highly contagious Delta variant has been wreaking havoc across the United States, leading to a worrisome increase in infections and hospitalizations. (Graphic on hospitalizations) https://tmsnrt.rs/37mnCry

Florida and Louisiana were at or near their highest [hospitalization numbers of the coronavirus](https://www.financedigest.com/u-s-coronavirus-cases-hit-new-high-hospitalizations-creep-up.html "U.S. coronavirus cases hit new high, hospitalizations creep up") pandemic this week, as one doctor warned of the “darkest days” yet.

More than 11,300 patients were hospitalized in Florida as of Tuesday, accounting for nearly a quarter of the [country’s hospitalized COVID](https://www.financedigest.com/u-s-cdc-lifts-covid-do-not-travel-recommendations-on-about-90-countries.html "U.S. CDC lifts COVID ‘Do Not Travel’ recommendations on about 90 countries") patients, according to data from the U.S. [Department of Health](https://www.financedigest.com/baswares-e-invoicing-to-eliminate-inefficiencies-in-health-department.html "Basware’s e-invoicing to eliminate inefficiencies in Health Department") and Human Services https://healthdata.gov/dataset/COVID-19-Reported-Patient-Impact-and-Hospital-Capa/6xf2-c3ie.

Louisiana was also dealing with one of the worst outbreaks in the nation, prompting Governor John Bel Edwards, a Democrat, to order residents to wear masks again indoors.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a Republican, has taken the opposite stance. He issued an executive order last [week barring schools from requiring face](https://www.financedigest.com/china-arrivals-in-uk-next-week-will-not-face-compulsory-covid-tests-independent.html "China arrivals in UK next week will not face compulsory COVID tests -Independent") coverings, saying parents should make that decision for their children.

(Reporting by Maria Caspani; Editing by Frank McGurty and Lisa Shumaker)


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