The first order will continue the city’s state of emergency pertaining to the COVID-19 pandemic. The state of emergency was put in place by former Mayor Bill de Blasio’s administration.
To access various venues as part of the Key to NYC program, children aged 5 to 11 must show proof of full vaccination by Jan. 29. Currently, they only need to present proof of one vaccine dose if they took the mRNA-based Pfizer or Moderna vaccines.
Adams, a former New York City police captain, signed the executive orders after having delivered an inaugural address from City Hall, where he urged the city’s nearly 9 million residents to get vaccinated.
“Getting vaccinated is not letting the crisis control you,” Adams said. “Enjoying a Broadway show, sending your kids to school, going back to the office: These are declarations of confidence that our city is our own.”
Adams has also said he and his advisers are studying whether to expand the vaccine mandates even further and plan to distribute face masks and rapid tests, as well as introduce a color-coded system alerting New Yorkers to the current threat level.