As of today (Aug. 17), New Yorkers must show proof of COVID-19 vaccination in order to enter most indoor businesses and participate in most indoor activities.
You probably knew about the requirement for indoor dining and gyms, but the list of mandatory businesses is actually much more extensive. The Mayor’s Office released it yesterday, along with clarifications of exceptions to the new rule.
Although the policy went into place today, the city is giving businesses some time to adjust. Official enforcement and penalties will not begin until September 13, but failure to comply after that date could result in $1,000 fines, even reaching $5,000 for repeated violators.
Here are all of the locations that will now require proof of vaccination:
Indoor entertainment
- Movie theaters
- Music and concert venues
- Museums & galleries
- Aquariums & zoos
- Professional sports arenas
- Indoor stadiums
- Convention centers
- Exhibition halls
- Performing arts theaters
- Bowling alleys
- Arcades
- Pool & billiard halls
- Recreational game centers
- Adult entertainment
- Indoor play areas
Indoor dining
- Restaurants
- Catering halls
- Hotel banquet rooms
- Bars
- Nightclubs
- Cafeterias
- Grocery stores with indoor dining
- Coffee shops
- Fast food/quick service with indoor dining
Indoor fitness
- Gyms
- Fitness centers
- Fitness classes
- Pools
- Indoor studios
- Dance studios
Some notable exceptions? Fast food/quick service with no indoor dining, residential buildings, office buildings, childcare programs, pre-K through grade 12 public and non-public schools and programs, senior centers, community centers and churches or charitable organizations hosting events with food.
These rules also do not apply to children under 12 at all, nor for those who are entering a location for a limited time (picking up food, getting a coffee to-go, using the bathroom, etc).
And here’s what counts as proof of vaccination: hard copy OR photo of CDC vaccination card, NYS Excelsior Pass, NYC COVID Safe App, other official vaccine record, photo or hard copy of an official vaccination record of a vaccine administered outside the U.S. for one of the following vaccines: AstraZeneca/SK Bioscience, Serum Institute of India/COVISHIELD and Vaxzevria, Sinopharm, or Sinovac.