NYC Begins Requiring Proof of Vaccination for Entrance to Indoor Venues

Starting today, you cannot enter a New York City restaurant, gym, or entertainment venue without showing proof that you are prepared to spend one bazillion dollars…and that you’ve received at least one dose of a Covid vaccine. 

The vaccine requirement is the first of its kind in a major US city, but it’s not the only one on the docket.

  • San Francisco is rolling out its vax mandates on Friday, which are even stricter than New York’s in that they require proof of full vaccination to enter many indoor businesses.
  • And while drinking inside is not required (or even recommended) in New Orleans, beginning today you’ll have to show that you’re vaccinated or that you recently tested negative for Covid to do it and other indoor activities in the Big Easy.

Zoom out: The recent Delta-fueled Covid wave is causing local governments—especially those whose economies rely on tourism—to take stronger action to make sure residents and visitors feel safe when they’re standing shoulder-to-shoulder at a bar. It’s all the more urgent considering consumer confidence plunged to its lowest level since 2011 in July.