New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) on Monday called for private businesses to incentivize getting vaccinated against the coronavirus by instituting "vaccine-only admission."
Why it matters: The Delta variant is driving up COVID-19 cases around the country, but deaths and hospitalizations are overwhelmingly occurring in unvaccinated people.
- New York has began requiring its state employees to receive the vaccine or submit to regular testing, but won't force the private sector to do the same.
- With New York’s seven-day rolling average now at 2,280 new cases per day, Cuomo warned that the state is facing “a serious situation.”
What they're saying: "We did this — Radio City Music Hall — months ago. Reopened, vaccine only. Sold out all the shows. Sports arenas, they went up to about 90% vaccine only," Cuomo said at a press conference Monday.
- "Private businesses, bars, restaurants: go to a vaccine-only admission. ... I believe it's in your business interest to run a vaccine-only establishment," he added.
- "We have passes. They're on apps, they're on phones, it's very simple. You can operate a restaurant, just say: 'You have to show you're vaccinated when you walk in the door.' It's going to help your business, not hurt it."
Go deeper: Vaccine mandates are popular