How to get proof of vaccination to enter to New York's restaurants, gyms and other venues
Last Tuesday, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the move in an effort to keep businesses open while encouraging people to be vaccinated.
The announcement comes after federal workers in New York state have been mandated to take the vaccine or risk losing their jobs. Both moves are a reaction to the worrying surge in covid-19 cases across the state and country. The new wave is being driven by the Delta variant of the virus.
The CDC has warned the new phase of the covid-19 crisis will be a "pandemic of the unvaccinated," due to the risk it poses to those who haven't been jabbed. To highlight this, 97% of current hospital admissions with covid-19 are people who are unvaccinated.
"If you're unvaccinated, unfortunately, you will not be able to participate in many things," Mayor Bill de Blasio said, "If you want to participate in our society fully, you've got to get vaccinated."
New York City will begin enforcing the rules on September 13, giving citizens time to get vaccinated.
What can be used to prove vaccination?
There are two official apps that can be downloaded to prove your vaccination; Excelsior Pass and NYC Covid Safe. The former is for use all over the state but NYC Covid Safe is for use in the city only.
Download NYS Excelsior Pass here.
If you don't have a smartphone, or don't want to download either app, the paper copy of your vaccination is also accepted proof of vaccination.
Covid-19 safety news:
Will the mandate actually convince people to get vaccinated?
While people can have their doubts about whether a stick-over-carrot policy will convince more people to get vaccinated, there is evidence from other countries that it works. After France imposed similar rules on visiting bars and restaurants in July, more than 1 million people made appointments to get the coronavirus vaccine.