New York Gov Kathy Hochul announced on Friday that every New York business will be required to either have a mask or vaccine mandate starting Monday.
Businesses will be forced to either check the vaccination status of employees and customers entering the building, or force everyone to wear a mask.
The order will go into effect on Monday, December 13, and is scheduled to end on January 15, 2022.
Each violation of the rule will carry a maximum $1,000 fine, a press release from the governor’s office said.
If a business opts for the vaccine requirement, employees and patrons must be 14 days removed from the final shot of a COVID-19 vaccine sequence – either the second shot of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines or the first shot of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
Mask requirements will apply to all patrons two years or older.
The mandate would apply to office workspaces as well.
Local health departments around the state will be responsible for enforcing the new mandates.
It comes days after New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced drastic measures to combat the spread of Covid, including vaccine mandates for private-sector employees.
In New York City, strict vaccine requirements are set to go into effect by the end of the year.
Earlier this week, Mayor de Blasio announced that private employers in his city that have in-person works would have to institute a vaccine requirement.
Children as young as five years old will also have to show proof of full vaccination before being able to enter dining, fitness, or entertainment venues.
He claimed the controversial measure was a ‘pre-emptive strike’ as cases began to rise once again in the city.
‘As Governor, my two top priorities are to protect the health of New Yorkers and to protect the health of our economy,’ Hochul said in a statement.
