Patrons will soon be able to enter New York City indoor venues without showing proof of vaccination against COVID-19.
Touting the city’s low levels of COVID-19 spread, Mayor Eric Adams announced Friday the city will end its mandate for businesses and scrap its mask requirements for children over 5 in public schools, effective March 7.
“No matter what decision Bill [de Blasio] made, he had an opposing view, protests, marches, people criticizing him. But the numbers don’t lie when you look at the prevention. Some of you are sitting here today because he was there to make those tough calls with his team — 48,000 deaths we prevented,” Adams said Friday. “I’m glad to say that the rates are low enough that the mandatory program is no longer needed.”
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Adams thanked healthcare workers, businesses, and the public for their efforts to help contain the spread of the virus. He noted that business compliance with the vaccine mandate was at 94%, marking a turning point in his efforts to reopen the city.
“This is a celebratory moment,” Adams said. “We have been waiting for this moment for so long, and we’re here. … Let’s celebrate the win, go out this weekend, go dine, go enjoy your family, go for a walk, [or] stop and see me at City Hall. We are winning, folks.”
The rollback was previewed when Adams announced last month his intent to nix the restrictions if the city’s COVID-19 numbers stayed on track. Case numbers are trending downward in the city and are below the rate of transmission before the onset of the omicron variant.
NYC Mayor Eric Adams (D) announces that the citywide vaccine mandate for businesses will be lifted starting March 7th:
“Folks can come in and enjoy the restaurants, enjoy the businesses … without having to show proof of vaccination.” pic.twitter.com/chdc3TEmG4
— The Recount (@therecount) March 4, 2022
Face masks will still be required for children under the age of 5 in schools, and the city’s vaccine mandate for city and private sector workers will remain in effect.
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De Blasio, the city’s previous mayor, implemented the vaccine mandate last year as part of his “Key to NYC” policy. The city estimates that 86.1% of its population has received at least one dose of the vaccine, higher than the national average of 76.4%, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
New York City’s pullback follows other cities such as Washington, D.C., which lifted its vaccine mandate for indoor settings last month. States across the country have been easing COVID-19 restrictions as the omicron surge dies down.
