Businesses mixed on NYC mandate
BY ALIYA SCHNEIDER
Bronx business owners have
mixed emotions about the new
NYC indoor mandate that will
require employees and patrons to
be vaccinated.
On Tuesday, Aug. 17, New
York City began requiring proof
of at least one dose of a COVID-19
vaccination for indoor dining,
gyms and performance venues
for both customers and employees.
A CDC vaccination card,
NYC COVID Safe app or the Excelsior
Pass app qualify as proof.
“If you want to participate in
our society fully, you’ve got to get
vaccinated,” Mayor Bill de Blasio
said when announcing the mandate
on Aug 3. The purpose of the
mandate is to incentivize vaccinations,
fight the Delta variant,
and ultimately “end the COVID
era once and for all in this city,”
de Blasio added.
The new mandate won’t be
enforced until Sept. 13.
As of Aug. 16, the Bronx has
the smallest percentage of residents
across the fi ve boroughs
who have received at least one
dose of the vaccine, at 54% compared
to 62.6% citywide and 74%
in Manhattan, according to the
New York City Department of
Health. NYC had a daily average
of 1,757 total COVID-19 cases
in NYC (1,390 confi rmed and 367
probable) over the past week —
an increasing trend from a daily
average of 1,471 total cases over
the past 28 days.
Jose Vanderpool Jr., co-owner
of Equis Fitness, 242 E. 137th St.,
said having another COVID-19 restriction
is “more annoying than
stressful.”
Vanderpool anticipates some
members will put their memberships
on hold because of the mandate
— both out of fear of the virus
and out of opposition to the
vaccine, he told the Bronx Times.
By lumping gyms in with
restaurants, the mandate may
lead customers who finally felt
comfortable coming in to “feel,
actually, it’s not as safe as they
thought,” Vanderpool said, adding
that there are unvaccinated
members, some who are vehemently
opposed to getting the vaccination,
and others who want to
wait longer before getting it.
According to Vanderpool,
All the gym’s employees are
vaccinated, and they encourage
members to get inoculated
and explain the impetus for
the new protocol.
Vanderpool said the gym
goes above and beyond with
safety measures to keep its
members safe from the virus,
and also to avoid running into
trouble.
BRONX TIMES REPORTER,2 AUG. 20-26, 2021 BTR
“We’re pretty much united
on the front that we’re going to
follow the mandate, because we
can get audited,” he said. “We
have had neighboring gyms sort
of get sprung on ... we don’t want
to be caught off guard.”
Bars and restaurants have
the ability to offer outdoor
seating to unvaccinated patrons,
since the mandate only
addresses indoor dining.
Regina Migliucci-Delfi ci,
owner of Mario’s Restaurant,
2342 Arthur Ave., told the Bronx
Times she was unsure about the
vaccine mandate.
“Personally, I think it’s
a catch 22,” she said. “I don’t
know how this will ultimately
play out. I think that we will see
some loss in customers. ”
Migliucci-Delfi ci also said
she believes the mandate
breaches customers’ medical
privacy and elected offi cials
shouldn’t be making medical
decisions.
“I think we all have to remember
that these offi cials are
not doctors,” she said.
Meanwhile, Arthur Aviles,
artistic director at BADD! Bronx
Academy of Arts and Dance at
2474 Westchester Ave., is in full
support of the mandate.
“I appreciate it, because I
honestly feel that there are people
that are being irresponsible
with the lives of other people,”
he said. “And to wear a mask
or to be vaccinated is a more
responsible direction. We have
eradicated diseases before.”
The performing arts venue
has been hosting mainly outdoor
shows, and its indoor performances
have been limited to less
than half a dozen audience members,
Aviles said.
Aviles said he appreciates
the mayor choosing to follow
the guidance of science.
The government doesn’t always
go in the direction that
you would agree with, but in
this case, our organization feels
this is safest,” he said.
-with reporting by Catelin
Bromfi eld
Restaurants must prohibit indoor dining to anyone who isn’t vaccinated
based on a new NYC mandate, which took effect on Aug. 17, 2021. Outdoor
dining remains open to everyone regardless of vaccination status.
Photo Pablo D. Castillo Jr.
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