NYC To Require Proof Of Vaccination – Is the Capital Region Next?
On Tuesday morning New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that the city will require people to provide proof of vaccination for indoor dining, entertainment, and fitness centers.
This decision is the first in the nation for a large city according to WNYT. The hope according to Mayor de Blasio, is that this will both encourage people to get vaccinated and will slow down the spread of the Delta variant of the coronavirus. The new requirement, which will go into effect on August 16.
During the Mayor's press conference he called the new requirements the "Key to NYC Pass".
The key to New York City. When you hear those words, I want you to imagine the notion that because someone is vaccinated, they can do all the amazing things that are available in New York City. This is a miraculous place, literally full of wonders, and if you're vaccinated, all that's gonna open up to you. You'll have the key, you can open the door." NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio
In addition, New York City will require that all city workers are vaccinated or they will have to get tested once a week. If you're trying to be hired by the city you'll need to show proof of vaccination as a requirement of employment.
So, is this something that could be coming to the Capital Region? Maybe. Right now the CDC is recommending mask-wearing while indoors in six counties in the Capital Region because transmission rates are on the rise. The next logical step seems to be a mask mandate and vaccination requirements.
Like I've said before though, getting people to put their masks back on and show proof of vaccination at this point is going to be met with a lot of resistance.