New York clubs lift required COVID-19 vaccine or negative test proof for entry

New York nightclubs with a capacity of 5,000 or under are no longer required to ask for proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test for entry.

Last week, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that almost all lockdown restrictions were being lifted in the area due to the high levels of vaccination uptake. 70% of New York residents aged 18 and over have received the first dose of their COVID-19 vaccine already.

“What New York has done is extraordinary,” Cuomo is quoted as saying last week. “Not only do we have the lowest COVID positivity rate in the United States of America, we have hit 70% vaccination ahead of schedule. We successfully deployed the weapon that will win the war, and New York led the nation.”

Some restrictions are still in place for large-scale indoor events, which have a capacity of 5,000 people or more. Proof of vaccination and a negative COVID-19 test are still requirements for entry to these events and mean that those in attendance are still not required to do social distancing or wear masks inside.

Venues in New York begun to gradually reopen at full capacity from last month, provided those in attendance were fully vaccinated. The city led the way in introducing digital and physical vaccine passports in order to allow venues to reopen and people to attend events again.