Indoor COVID Mandate Yields Just 15 Fines In 31K Venues Inspected

NEW YORK CITY — Enforcement on a strict coronavirus vaccine mandate for many New York City indoor spaces is a month old — and restaurants, gyms and entertainment venues have largely complied with the rule, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Wednesday.

City workers conducted 31,000 inspections of businesses after the "Key To NYC" proof of vaccination rule took effect, de Blasio said.

Inspectors gave out 6,000 warnings on violations, which gave business owners a chance to make corrections before they received a violation and fine, said Jonnel Doris, commissioner for Small Business Services.

“So far after a full month — all the preparation, all the education — there’s only been 15 violations necessary,” de Blasio said.

The indoor vaccine mandate — which requires proof of vaccination to dine indoors, work out in gyms and attend entertainment events — is one of several strict rules across the city designed to increase inoculations.

De Blasio said COVID-19 vaccinations overall grew 9 percent since the indoor mandate began.

The rate for New Yorkers who are 18 to 34 years olds — a group that has lagged behind others in vaccination rates — went up 13 percent in that time.

"Of course, they want to go out to restaurants and bars and entertainment," he said.

Patch requested a list of businesses that received fines, but a mayor's office spokesperson said they couldn't immediately provide one, citing ongoing appeals.

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