Starting tomorrow, New York will require both visitors and staff to be vaccinated to enter its museums and many other cultural institutions.
The news came from city officials at a press conference Monday, where Mayor Bill de Blasio announced of the new Key to NYC Pass, that will essentially grant you access to the city’s offerings. “This is a miraculous place literally full of wonders. And, if you’re vaccinated, all that’s going to open up to you. You’ll have the key. You can open the door. But, if you’re un-vaccinated, unfortunately, you will not be able to participate in many things.”
Earlier in the month, Mayor de Blasio made New York the first city in America to require proof of vaccination to enter gyms, restaurants and indoor concerts. Additionally, he also reiterated a city-wide ordinance to offer $100 USD to those who get their shots. Similar to measures being taken across France, Italy and US cities, such as San Francisco and New Orleans — government officials are fervently trying to stop the spread of the Delta variant.
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Although there has been concerns raised against such mandates, there are those in the cultural community who praise the changes. “We are wholly supportive of the city’s efforts to encourage vaccines for visitors and staff,” said the chief communications officer at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Kenneth Weine in an interview with Artnet. Similarly, The New York Times‘ Robin Pogrebin reported that the Cultural Institutions Group, which are 33 museum and art groups operating in city-owned buildings or land, held meetings with officials several weeks ago and a large consensus was “in favor of a vaccination mandate.”
The requirement to show proof of vaccination will officially go into effect on Tuesday, August 17 and will be enforced on September 13. There are several different ways one can show their status — via the NYC COVID SAFE app, their CDC card, along with the Excelsior Pass.
Elsewhere, Canada has opened its borders to vaccinated U.S. Travelers.
