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."
