Key to NYC Requirements Suspended Beginning Monday, March 7 – New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced several changes to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions that will continue to protect the health and safety of all New Yorkers, while simultaneously boosting the city’s economic recovery. In the face of quickly declining COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations and more than 17 million doses of vaccines administered, Mayor Adams announced the suspension of the Key to NYC program.
Beginning Monday, March 7, indoor venues, including restaurants, fitness facilities, and entertainment spaces will no longer be required to check for proof of vaccination before customers enter. Businesses previously covered by Key to NYC rules will still have the flexibility to require proof of vaccination or masking indoors if they choose.
If the number of cases and/or hospitalizations increase, the City will reconsider whether Key to NYC or other vaccine requirements need to be implemented again.
All other COVID-19 mandates will remain in effect. Under the rules, employees will still be required to be vaccinated unless they have received a reasonable accommodation from their employer.
Clarification of Remaining Mask Mandates – Although masks are no longer required in businesses or schools (K-12), they are still required in the following settings:
- All healthcare settings regulated by the Department of Health
- Nursing homes and adult care facilities
- Correctional facilities and detention centers
- Homeless shelters
- Public transportation hubs
- Trains, planes, and airports (Federal regulation)
New COVID-19 Alert Level System Announced – Early Friday, Mayor Adams released a new color-coded system that tracks COVID-19 alerts and keeps New York City residents apprised of the risks they face in New York City. This new system will better help New Yorkers understand the current level of COVID-19 risk and how they can best protect themselves and others based on the current risk. The system consists of four alert levels that outline precautions and recommended actions for individuals and government based on the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Community Burden Indicator.
New York City is currently at a low alert level (green).