Employers, restaurants, gyms, schools and theaters in New York requiring COVID-19 vaccines

U.S. federal government. Tens of millions of Americans who work at companies with 100 or more employees will need to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by Jan. 4 or get tested for the virus weekly under government rules issued on Nov. 4.

The new requirements, which were first previewed by President Joe Biden in September, will apply to about 84 million workers at medium and large businesses. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations will force the companies to require that unvaccinated workers test negative for COVID-19 at least once a week and wear a mask while in the workplace

Previously, Biden also signed an executive order to require vaccination for employees of the executive branch and contractors who do business with the federal government — with no option to test out. That covers several million more workers.

In July, it was announced that millions of federal workers would be required to verify they've been vaccinated or else face mandatory masking, weekly testing, distancing and other new rules. And Biden directed the Defense Department to look into adding the COVID-19 shot to its list of required vaccinations for members of the military.

New York City. New York City public school personnel including teachers and principals must be vaccinated, with a few exceptions.

"Those folks will go on leave without pay who chose not to be vaccinated," Mayor Bill de Blasio said as the mandate went into effect.

New York City is already requiring workers and customers to provide proof they have received at least one COVID-19 shot for all indoor dining, indoor fitness facilities and indoor entertainment facilities. Proof could be shown via a copy of a paper vaccination card, or a government-issued smart phone app like the Excelsior Pass.

New York City public schoolchildren aged 12 and older participating in extracurricular chorus, musical theater, dance, marching band, cheerleading and orchestra must be vaccinated against the coronavirus.

All other New York City government employees — including police officers and firefighters — must be vaccinated or undergo weekly testing. (NYPD officers risk being docked pay if they don’t comply with the order, according to a directive from the department.) Front-line city hospital and health care workers and those who work in congregant settings such as senior centers also have to abide by this mandate.

New York State. All health care workers in the state had until Sept. 27 to receive at least one dose of the vaccine. The order includes those employed at New York hospitals, nursing homes and other long-term care facilities as well as "adult care and other congregate care settings." There will be limited exemptions for religious or medical reasons.

All state employees are required to get vaccinated or tested regularly, and all patient-facing health care workers in state-run hospitals must receive the vaccine. Workers at state-owned hospitals could not opt to undergo frequent virus testing. State-run hospitals on Long Island are the Stony Brook University Hospital and Long Island State Veterans Home in Stony Brook.

Metropolitan Transportation Authority. The MTA’s 73,000 workers have to get vaccinated or undergo weekly testing.

The Department of Veterans Affairs. The VA became the first major federal agency on July 26 to require health care workers to get COVID-19 vaccines. At the VA, vaccines are now mandatory for specified health care personnel — including physicians, dentists, podiatrists, optometrists, registered nurses, physician assistants and others who work in departmental facilities or provide direct care to veterans, said VA Secretary Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough. On Long Island, this includes the Northport VA Medical Center and VA medical clinics.

New York City restaurants. As part of de Blasio's Key to NYC Pass program, proof of vaccination (at least one shot) is required for indoor dining at all New York City restaurants. The policy pertains to workers and customers, de Blasio said. Prior to de Blasio's announcement, Danny Meyer, whose Union Square Hospitality Group operates several restaurants in New York City and Washington, D.C. announced that vaccines would be required of all staff and guests dining at his establishments. He owns Blue Smoke, Gramercy Tavern, Union Square Café, Caffe Marchio, Cedric’s at The Shed, Daily Provisions, Intersect by Lexus, LoBall, Maialino, Manhatta, Marta, The Modern, Porchlight, Tacocina and Vini e Fritti.

The Black Sheep Ale House. The Mineola bar may be the first hospitality venue on Long Island to mandate that all customers and workers be vaccinated. It is now requiring patrons show proof of vaccination for entry.

All SUNY and CUNY schools. All students returning to in-person instruction at SUNY and CUNY schools statewide this fall had to be vaccinated against COVID-19. On Long Island, this includes State University of New York at Stony Brook, SUNY College at Old Westbury, State University of New York at Farmingdale, Nassau County Community College and Suffolk County Community College.

Long Island University. LIU Post is requiring vaccinations of everyone coming to its Brookville campus to study, teach or work, including staff and students.

Adelphi University. The university is requiring all students to be fully vaccinated before returning to the Garden City campus, according to its website. All requests for religious or medical exemptions will be considered on a case-by-case basis with unvaccinated individuals with approved exemptions required to follow established health and safety protocols on campus, and participate in Adelphi’s ongoing surveillance testing program. Students in fully online degree programs or who are fully remote are exempt from the policy.

Hofstra University. All employees must be vaccinated or provide weekly COVIID-19 tests, the university's new president Susan Poser announced. All students returning to in-person instruction at Hofstra's campus in Hempstead must be vaccinated against COVID-19. The mandate does not apply to those who are in fully online programs or those taking in-person classes remotely. There will be a process for those who want to seek a medical or religious exemption, university officials said.

Molloy College. The college, located in Rockville Centre, is requiring that all students be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to an announcement on its website. This policy does not apply to students who are enrolled in a fully online program and will not visit any Molloy location. Those with a valid medical or religious exemption may submit a request for an exemption.

St. Joseph's College. The college, which has a campus in Patchogue, is requiring COVID-19 vaccinations for both students and staff, as well as masking by everyone on its campus, officials said.

The Mets. The Mets' are requiring most full-time and part-time employees based in the administrative offices at Citi Field and other areas of the ballpark, as well those who work for Steve Cohen-owned minor-league teams Triple-A Syracuse, High-A Brooklyn, and Low-A St. Lucie to be vaccinated, according to sources. Among those excluded from the requirement: unionized stadium workers such as security guards, as well as some baseball employees like coaches and scouts, but a source said it is likely that the Mets eventually will require all of those groups to be vaccinated, too.

CVS. CVS pharmacists will have until Nov. 30 to be fully vaccinated, while other employees who interact with patients and all corporate staff have until Oct. 31 to comply, The New York Times reported. CVS said the mandate will affect about 100,000 employees.

RXR. One of the largest landlords on Long Island is requiring its employees to get vaccinated and its vendors, contractors and other corporate guests to show proof of vaccination before entering company properties, the firm announced. RXR, which has more than 500 employees in its New York City and Uniondale offices, became one of the first major businesses on the Island outside of the health care industry to mandate vaccinations. About 150 work in the Long Island office. Employees who can't be vaccinated because of their religious beliefs or medical conditions may be granted an exemption. Others who do not abide by the mandate will be fired, the memo said.

AstraZeneca. The drug maker has mandated that its U.S.-based employees be vaccinated against the coronavirus if they are returning to the workplace or visiting customers, The New York Times reported. Workers can request exemptions for medical, religious or other reasons but will be required to take weekly coronavirus tests.

Joseph Gunnar & Co. LLC. The financial brokerage firm based in Uniondale was one of the first businesses on the Island to announce staff will need to get vaccinated. CEO Joseph Alagna told roughly 100 employees that they'll need to be vaccinated within 60 days of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration giving final approval to vaccines.

United Airlines. United became the first major airline to establish a vaccine mandate, which states that all U.S. employees must upload proof of vaccination within five weeks of the Federal Drug Administration fully approving a vaccine or by Oct. 25, whichever comes first, The New York Times reported. Those who provide proof by Sept. 20 will receive a full day’s pay, excluding pilots and flight attendants who have already received a union-negotiated bonus for getting vaccinated.

Northwell Health. The largest health system in the state, which is based in New Hyde Park and operates 11 hospitals on Long Island, gave employees a deadline of Aug. 16 to be fully vaccinated or submit to weekly COVID-19 testing. It had previously announced it was requiring all new hires, students and volunteers to be fully vaccinated. Northwell — which said 77% of its workforce is vaccinated — also told staffers if they fail to get tested in a timely manner they "will face adverse action that could progress up to and include termination," according to a statement.

Mount Sinai Health System. The Mount Sinai Health System, which includes Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital in Oceanside, announced that COVID-19 vaccinations are mandatory for all faculty and staff. All employees had to get at least the first dose of a vaccine by Sept. 13, with limited exceptions being made for religious and medical reasons and excluding those employees who work "fully remotely" or have a current remote work agreement in place, they added. Mount Sinai said any employee who did not comply with the requirement — and did not have an allowable exemption — would face disciplinary action, "up to and including termination."

Equinox gyms, SoulCycle studios. Equinox Group and its portfolio of brands announced that its members, riders, and employees will be required to show one-time proof of vaccination to enter Equinox clubs, SoulCycle studios, and corporate offices, starting in New York City in early September. For those who require medical and religious accommodations, Equinox Group says it will work with members, riders, and employees accordingly. The company also stated that it plans to introduce similar policies in all of its markets.

Walmart. Walmart announced that "all market, regional and divisional associates who work in multiple facilities and all campus office associates" to be vaccinated by Oct. 4, unless they have an approved exception. This includes all new hires. According to The New York Times, the mandate applies to employees in Walmart's headquarters and for managers who traveled in the United States, but not employees in stores, clubs, and distribution and fulfillment centers.

Walt Disney Company. Disney is requiring salaried and nonunion hourly U.S. employees at its sites be fully vaccinated, The New York Times reported. Unvaccinated workers who are already on site will have 60 days to get the shots, while new hires will be required to be fully vaccinated before starting.

Google. Google became the first Big Tech company to announce that it will require employees who work in its offices, including its New York City location, to be fully vaccinated, The Washington Post reported.

Facebook. All U.S. employees will be required to be vaccinated to enter Facebook's offices, which include locations in New York City. According to a statement tweeted by a Facebook spokesperson, there will be a "process for those who cannot be vaccinated for medical or other reasons."

Netflix. Actors and "Zone A" crew members — those who come in proximity to cast members — on Netflix's U.S. productions will be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19, in accordance with Hollywood’s new return-to-work protocols, Variety reported.

NYU Langone Health. A spokesperson told Newsday that "once a COVID-19 vaccine receives full approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), it will be mandatory for all faculty and staff."

Morgan Stanley. Before bringing employees back to its New York offices in mid-July, Morgan Stanley announced that it will require employees and visitors to be fully vaccinated against the coronavirus, according to a report in The New York Times. Staff members who don’t will be required to work remotely.

Delta. The airline announced that it will require all new hires in the U.S. to be vaccinated against COVID-19, unless they qualify for an accommodation.

UBS Arena at Belmont Park. The Islanders announced that, following state guidelines, "All guests ages 5 and up will be required to present proof of full vaccination status or proof of a negative COVID-19 test to enter the venue" when they open their new, $1.1 billion home on Nov. 20 against the Calgary Flames.

The team added that the protocols were subject to change based on further guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the state and Nassau County.

ESPN reported on Friday the Islanders were one of eight teams in the 32-team NHL that will require either proof of vaccination or a negative test result. ESPN reported the Rangers will be one of 10 teams to only allow vaccinated fans to their games at Madison Square Garden.

ESPN also reported the Islanders and Rangers are among four teams requiring both a mask and a negative COVID-19 test for children 12 and under.

Live Nation Entertainment. The concert promoter, which oversees Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater and NYCB Theatre at Westbury, recently announced that this fall proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative coronavirus test within 72 hours will be required to attend all shows at its venues. The requirement goes into effect Oct. 4, which comes just after Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater ends its 2021 season. Locally, the policy will first be in place for the Mary Chapin Carpenter, Marc Cohn and Shawn Colvin show on Oct. 5 at NYCB Theatre at Westbury.

The Paramount. The Huntington venue has announced that it will be adhering to Live Nation’s new COVID-19 regulations regarding showing proof of vaccination or a negative test within 72-hours in order to be admitted to an event starting Oct. 4.

Nassau Coliseum. All upcoming events at the Uniondale venue will be held in accordance with new rules and regulations issued by the State of New York for indoor facilities and large social gatherings, according to the Coliseum's website. Check the specific event you're attending for specific details but for instance, when Michael Bublé performed there in October, proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test were required to enter the facility.

Theaters in NYC. De Blasio's announcement requiring vaccinations for workers and customers engaging in most indoor activities in New York City includes entertainment venues. Prior to that, the Broadway League announced that the owners and operators of all 41 Broadway theatres in New York City will require vaccinations for audience members, as well as performers, backstage crew, and theater staff, for all performances through October 2021. Guests will need to be fully vaccinated with an FDA or WHO authorized vaccine and must show proof of vaccination at their time of entry into the theater.

And the Metropolitan Opera had also announced that audiences and performers will be required to be fully vaccinated Children under the age of 12, for whom there is currently no available vaccine, are not permitted to enter the Met regardless of the vaccination status of their guardian, according to the policy.

The Suffolk Theater. All patrons and staff entering the theater will be required to show their vaccination cards, the excelsior pass, or a recent negative COVID test (within 72 hours) to enter the building, the venue posted on its website.

John W. Engeman Theater. The theater in Northport became the first on Long Island to announce that patrons ages 12 and older will be required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination upon entry. Audience members younger than 12 must be accompanied by a fully vaccinated adult and will need to be masked. Fully vaccinated adults must have had their final dose at least 14 days before the performance date.

Gateway Playhouse. The Bellport theater is asking guests to provide proof of vaccination.