(CNN) — New York City’s recently announced vaccination mandate for certain indoor activities raises questions for visitors about meeting the new requirements.
The Key to NYC pass, announced Tuesday by Mayor Bill de Blasio, will require vaccinations of workers and patrons for indoor dining, indoor fitness facilities and indoor entertainment facilities like show spaces and cinemas.
“The only way to frequent these establishments in the interior will be if you are vaccinated,” de Blasio said Tuesday when announcing the program.
The city “will outline all the details” over the next two weeks, the mayor said during a news conference on Wednesday.
Final details of the policy will be announced and implemented in the week of August 16, and inspections and enforcement are scheduled to begin the week of September 13.
While all the implications of the vaccination mandates are unclear, here is what you need to know so far about how they will affect visitors:
How do I submit proof of vaccination?
The mayor said that vaccination status can be communicated in three ways:
- Showing a vaccination card, such as those issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- Submit that information through the NYC COVID Safe app.
- Through the Excelsior Pass state (which works for vaccinated people in New York State).
How will international visitors prove their vaccination status?
“Vaccines listed for emergency use by the World Health Organization (WHO) are acceptable, and visitors can show their vaccination record from where the vaccine was given,” said Laura Feyer, spokeswoman for the mayor’s office, for email.
Information from those vaccination cards can also be entered into the NYC COVID Safe app, Feyer said.
WHO has listed Pfizer / BioNTech, Astrazeneca-SK Bio, Serum Institute of India, Janssen (Johnson & Johnson), Moderna, Sinopharm and Sinovac vaccines for emergency use.
Travel to the United States is currently not allowed from Brazil, China, the Schengen Area of the European Union, India, Iran, Ireland, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. Waivers are available to US citizens, family members, or permanent residents.
Do I have to be fully vaccinated?
Only one dose is required to enter, de Blasio said Tuesday.
He reiterated Wednesday that “even the first dose gets you into the game.”
Can children under 12 who are not yet eligible for vaccination enter these indoor spaces?
“Of course,” de Blasio said during a press conference on Wednesday. “We want families to be together. The smartest thing to do is keep your children in masks, except that they are obviously eating and drinking.”
Where will unvaccinated visitors eat?
“At cookouts,” Feyer said, noting that the city is still working out the details of vaccination mandates.
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