2 DECEMBER 16, 2021 RIDGEWOOD TIMES WWW.QNS.COM
Queens Chamber ‘concerned’ over city’s new vaccine mandate
BY BILL PARRY
BPARRY@SCHNEPSMEDIA.COM
@QNS
The Queens Chamber of Commerce
is expressing its concerns
aft er Mayor Bill de Blasio
announced the city’s new vaccine
mandate for private sector employers
that has been implemented to slow the
spread of COVID-19 and the emerging
omicron variant.
The sweeping expansion of the
“Key to NYC” program — the fi rst-inthe
nation vaccination mandate for
workers and customers at indoor
dining, fitness, entertainment and
performance venues — will require
all New Yorkers aged 12 and older to
be required to show proof of two vaccine
doses, instead of one, except for
those who have received the Johnson
& Johnson vaccine.
“We in New York City have decided
to use a preemptive strike to really
do something bold to stop the further
growth of COVID and the dangers it’s
causing to all of us,” de Blasio said. “So
as of today we’re going to announce a
fi rst-in-the-nation measure: our health
commissioner will announce a vaccine
mandate for private sector employers
across the board.”
The mandate will take effect on
Dec. 27, just four days before de
Blasio leaves offi ce, and it will apply to
roughly 184,000 businesses across the
fi ve boroughs, according to City Hall.
“Throughout the pandemic, small
businesses have gone above and
beyond to keep their customers, employees
and communities safe. While
we remain concerned about COVID-19,
we are also worried about the impact
that further restrictions will have on
businesses,” Queens Chamber of Commerce
President and CEO Tom Grech
said. “We hope the administration will
work collaboratively with small businesses
on vaccine mandates to ensure
we are keeping our city safe while
allowing our businesses to stay open.”
Children ages 5 to 11 will be required
to show proof of at least one dose of the
vaccine starting Dec. 14 for activities
like indoor dining, fi tness and entertainment,
according to de Blasio.
“A lot of parents, of course, want to
take their kids out to wonderful things
that’ll be happening in the holiday season.
Here’s a reminder: Get your child
vaccinated,” he said.
Currently, only about 20% of New
Yorkers in that age group have gotten
vaccinated, according to the mayor.
The expansion of the vaccine mandate
comes in the middle of the holiday season,
which bars and restaurants across
the fi ve boroughs are counting on
aft er nearly two years of restrictions
caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Andrew Rigie, executive director
of the NYC Hospitality Alliance, said
that “given the rapidly approaching
holidays and considerable impact
of the Dec. 14 deadline, the proposal
should be delayed until next year.”
“Public health and safety is
paramount, but Mayor de Blasio’s
announced expansions to the Key to
NYC vaccine mandate pose additional
challenges for an already beleaguered
restaurant industry in need of tourism
support and revenues this holiday season,”
Rigie said. “U.S. families visiting
New York City for scheduled holiday
vacations may not be able to meet the
vaccination requirements for children
or themselves in time, and children
aged 5 to 11 across the globe aren’t universally
authorized to get vaccinated.”
The city has administered more
than 12.5 million vaccination doses
against COVID-19.
Mayor Bill de Blasio announced new vaccine mandates for private sector
employees, raising “concerns” from the Queens Chamber of Commerce.
Photo by Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Offi ce
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Mayor
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Health Commissioner
Pediatricians recommend
the COVID-19 vaccine
for 5-17 year olds.
/COVID-19
/WWW.QNS.COM
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