Newly elected New York City Mayor Eric Adams has announced that concerts within the city will no longer require proof of vaccination beginning on Saturday, May 7th.
Speaking at a March 4th news conference in Times Square, Adams told reporters that vaccination status will no longer be required for entry at bars, restaurants, and gyms either. Businesses around the city – including clubs and venues – have been required to enforce vaccination requirements since the summer of 2021 under a citywide set of protocols called “The Key to NYC.”
Instead of the city mandating businesses enforce their COVID-19 rules, owners can choose their own set of guidelines after May 7th. “Businesses previously covered [by the vaccination requirements] will still have the flexibility to require proof of vaccination or masking indoors if they choose,” Adams’ office said.
The mayor tempered listeners’ expectations, reminding everyone that the current requirements may remain if cases rise. “COVID-19 changes, it shifts, it modifies,” he said, “and we must be willing to do the same.”
New COVID-19 cases in New York City have been on a steady decline since January 9th, when they peaked at 42,461. As of March 9th, there are 459 new cases with a seven-day average of 687.
