New York City is set to require vaccination proof for indoor dining

According to The New York Times, New York City plans to mandate proof of COVID-19 vaccination for dining indoors at restaurants and engaging in other indoor activities.

The initiative is anticipated to launch this month and aims to motivate more residents to get vaccinated, as reported by the Times.

City data shows that 66% of adults in New York City are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. However, when analyzed by borough, Brooklyn and the Bronx have not yet reached a 50% vaccination rate.

Just a day earlier, Mayor Bill de Blasio held a press conference suggesting that fully vaccinated individuals wear masks indoors, though he did not make it a requirement.

"Our primary focus has been on research," de Blasio stated on Aug. 2. "We aimed to analyze the CDC's findings and decide what strategies would be effective based on that. Everything we're implementing is rooted in data and science, but it's also driven by strategy."

The mayor frequently emphasizes the city's recovery from the coronavirus, which hit New York City hard at the beginning of the pandemic, claiming thousands of lives. Following an early vaccination initiative, the city was deemed "fully reopened." However, due to increasing positive cases, de Blasio has recently mandated that unvaccinated city employees undergo weekly COVID-19 testing. The city will also introduce a vaccine passport named "Key to NYC Pass" to verify vaccination status. It remains uncertain how this will align with New York State's Excelsior Pass.

This announcement arrives as the delta variant of COVID-19 continues to rise. It is considered more contagious and has resulted in an increase in cases.

Numerous private businesses in New York City have already started requiring proof of vaccination, including Equinox and SoulCycle.