Children ages 5 and up must now show proof that they have received at least one dose of vaccine to enter most businesses – including theaters, gyms and restaurants – in the city.
The mandate also includes some leisure activities.
The rule will be extended again on December 27, when everyone over the age of 12 must show proof of a full two-dose vaccination.
“We want to protect everyone,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “We want to protect our youngest New Yorkers. We know that omicron had a huge impact on younger people. We know we need a whole family to be safe, and if the youngest children are safe, it also helps to protect our seniors. “
ALSO READ: Some counties refuse to enforce new mask mandate in New York as it begins
Meanwhile, Hochul cited a holiday wave of COVID happening now to defend the latest order – which went into effect Monday – that all indoor public places without a vaccine mandate require masks.
The number of cases has increased by over 58% across the country since Thanksgiving, and the number of admissions has increased by 70% over the same period.
Hochul said she made “many, many calls” to individual county officials as well as to business leaders before the mandate took effect.
“73% or so of New York State’s state population is governed by county leaders who say they support what we’re doing here,” Hochul claimed.
But some county leaders have questioned why Hochul introduced a nationwide mandate for what they called a regional problem. Nassau County Executive-elect Bruce Blakeman said he would not enforce it when he takes office on Jan. 1.
“I can see that there is no reason to have a mask mandate and I have indicated that I would not enforce it,” he said.
Long Island is currently fourth on the list of cases in the state, only in the minority in COVID cases of Finger Lakes, the metropolitan area and central New York. But Blakeman points out that Nassau’s vaccination rate is far higher than elsewhere in the state – and that Long Island has far more health facilities.
“We are worried, but we are not in crisis,” he said. “I think we need to use some common sense. Look at science. Look at data.”
ALSO READ | Lack of Santa Claus imitators due to COVID concerns comes as demand is high at all times
Hochul said 30% of New Yorkers are still not fully vaccinated, and she blamed them for the worsening numbers.
“This is a crisis for the unvaccinated,” she said. “It did not have to be. Completely preventable. So if I sound a little frustrated, I might be. This did not have to be the case.”
The state has only seen 2% of the state’s residents fully vaccinated since Thanksgiving.
The mask rule is in place until January 15, when it will be re-evaluated before a decision is made.
MORE CORONAVIRUS COVID-19 COVERAGE
New York City COVID-19 Vaccine Tracker
New Jersey COVID-19 Vaccine Tracker
Center for Disease Control and Prevention on coronavirus
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