New York City is taking another step towards normality. Mayor Eric Adams announced last Friday the lift of the vaccine requirements for live shows. Beginning Monday (March 7), indoor settings like music venues, restaurants, and bars, will no longer be required to check for proof of vaccination before customers enter. However, these establishments will still have the flexibility to require proof of vaccination or masking indoors if they choose.
New York City’s positivity rate is only at 1.8%, Adams said. The ease in restrictions also comes from the high vaccination rate in the Big Apple. As of March 7, about 86% of New Yorkers have received at least one dose, and 77% are fully vaccinated. New York City has fewer than 2,000 hospitalizations for the first time since last fall, per The New York Times. For the mayor, it’s a sign of economic revival. Here is what he had to say on the matter.
“Two years ago we were the epicenter, and two months ago we became the epicenter again with Omicron. Two years of pain, of heartbreak, of uncertainty, of business loss, of schools closing — just conflict inside our households.”
Moreover, masks in public school children from kindergarten through 12th grade are a thing of the past. New York City officials confirmed the lift of these restrictions almost after a full year in effect. Obviously, these announcements represent a major milestone during the pandemic.
Recently, we saw Coachella drop the mask and vaccine proof for the attendees. As we inch closer to festival season, it is truly great to see those requirements disappear in New York City. Hopefully, things will go back to normal and we can put this pandemic behind us.
Stay tuned for more news!
