Here’s What To Know About NYC’s New Indoor Dining Vaccination Requirement

NYC restaurants and bars will now require anyone eating or drinking indoors to show proof that they’ve received at least one dose of a Covid vaccine.

August 17, 2021

Here’s how the new policy works.

The Logic

Mayor deBlasio’s Key To NYC executive order is a direct response to the rising caseload of the Delta variant, and updated CDC guidelines. Even in instances of breakthrough Covid cases, vaccinated individuals are much less likely to become severely ill or hospitalized than those who aren’t vaccinated.
In his recent press conferences, deBlasio has repeatedly framed the new mandate as an incentive for New Yorkers to get vaccinated. The thinking: if unvaccinated New Yorkers won’t be able to participate in indoor dining, theater-going, and other cultural institutions, maybe they’ll change their minds.

You can use the Excelsior Pass app or NYC Covid Safe app to present your vaccination status before being seated. Showing a paper card or a photo of a paper card works too.
Anyone who has been vaccinated outside of NYC or the US can present an official immunization record or vaccine card. Any New Yorker vaccinated outside of the state can still download the Excelsior App with out-of-state records.
FYI: you’ll also need to show proof of vaccination to enter theaters, gyms, concert venues, museums, nightclubs, as well as grocery stores and coffee shops with indoor dining.

According to the executive order, NYC’s new indoor-vaccination requirement officially begins Tuesday, August 17th, although the city government won’t enforce the mandate until September 13th. AKA no restaurant will receive a fine for the first month. Remember what happened with the overnight reversal of takeout cocktails?
Many places have already set similar policies. We spoke to some NYC restaurant operators about how they’re preparing for the change.
There’s some wiggle room for businesses to be stricter about the mandate if they so choose: restaurants and bars are allowed to require full vaccination as opposed to the one-dose minimum.

According to deBlasio, the city is using the time between now and September 13th to roll out educational resources so businesses can prepare before enforcement. For example, small businesses can take an online de-escalation training for turning away customers.
In a press conference on Monday August, 16th, the mayor announced that the city will spend $10 million on advertising and outreach. 600 canvassers will be deployed around NYC to make sure businesses are prepared.
Every restaurant and bar will be required to [print out a sign explaining the indoor vaccination policy printable signage.

Anyone 12 and under can eat inside, since they aren’t yet eligible to receive a Covid vaccine.
Restaurants and bars must allow people who are unvaccinated to come inside to use the bathroom. They must wear a mask inside.
Takeout and delivery-only establishments won’t need to check proof of vaccination.

The Department Of Health and other city agencies will check to make sure every bar or restaurant has posted signage explaining the vaccination mandate, and that they’re implementing the indoor vaccine requirements.
After September 13th, any establishment that doesn’t comply with the indoor vaccination mandate will be fined on an escalating scale: $1,000 for a first offense, $2,000 for a second offense, $5,000 for a third offense, and so on.
On the customer side, anyone using a fraudulent vaccine card could go to prison for 7 years.

For now, restaurants and bars will not be required to check the vaccination status of anyone dining outside. [Although some restaurants and bars have put policies into place doing just that.]
In a [press conference on Monday, August 16th,] Mayor deBlasio said the city would continue to monitor how the Covid Delta variant impacts New York and its businesses as the weather changes this fall. “If we need to take additional steps, we will for sure.”

NYC Feature