Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, surrounded by Boston-area mayors and town managers, addresses reporters at a Dec. 20, 2021 press conference on the city's new vaccine mandate for restaurants, theaters and gyms. Photo by Isabel Leon | Boston Mayor's Office

With a new surge in COVID-19 cases threatening to strain hospital capacity and harm the city’s economy, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu announced new vaccination requirements for city staff and select businesses.

Wu’s decision was made in tandem with a number of other mayors and town managers in Greater Boston who said they will seek similar steps in their communities.

City of Boston employees now have until Jan. 15, 2022 to get their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and until Feb. 15 to get their second dose. The city will grant exemptions for medical or religious reasons, but will no longer exempt staff who do not claim either but still wish to remain unvaccinated. The city had previously allowed these employees to get tested for COVID-19 regularly instead of getting vaccinated.

At the same Monday morning news conference where Wu announced a change in vaccination policy for city staff, she unveiled a public health order mandating all customers and employees of the city’s restaurants and bars, theaters, museums, event venues, gyms and fitness businesses show proof of vaccination. Customers and employees over age 12 will need to start showing proof of a first dose by Jan. 15 and proof of a second dose starting Feb. 15. Children ages 5-11 must show proof of a first dose by March 1 and proof of a second dose by May 1.

Proof can be provided with their CDC vaccination card, a photo of their card, a paper or digital immunization record from a health care provider or an official COVID-19 vaccine verification app. The city plans to create its own mobile app, modeled on New York City’s Key to NYC app, that was rolled ou earlier this year as part of that city’s own vaccine mandate.

“Vaccines are the most powerful tool we have to fight this pandemic. Vaccination saves lives, and closing vaccination gaps is the best way to support and protect our communities, businesses, and cultural institutions during this pandemic,” Wu said in a statement. “The vast majority of COVID-related hospitalizations are of unvaccinated individuals, which is impacting our entire healthcare system and compromising the health of our communities. Today’s steps to protect community members in certain indoor establishments and throughout our city workforce will help ensure that everyone in Boston will be safe. City government must take down barriers and direct our resources for easy access to testing and vaccination to protect our city and all of our communities.”

As of Dec. 14, 2021, 79 percent of the total Boston resident population has received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and 68 percent are fully vaccinated, the mayor’s office said. Only 31 percent of fully vaccinated Bostonians have been boosted. Among 5-11-year-olds, only 30 percent have received their first dose of vaccine.

New positive COVID-19 cases have increased 89 percent compared to two weeks ago, Wu’s office said, with the city now averaging 369 new cases per day and 229 adult COVID-19 hospitalizations per day, a 60 percent jump over two weeks ago. Around two-thirds of those hospitalized are unvaccinated, Wu’s office said.

At the same press conference where Wu announce the city’s new anti-COVID measures, the mayors and town managers of Arlington, Brookline, Cambridge, Medford, Salem and Somerville declared their support for her actions and said they would pursue similar efforts. Gov. Charlie Baker has adamantly opposed any statewide vaccine mandate.

Business owners also praised the decision at the press conference.

“As an entrepreneur working in the hospitality industry, I know firsthand how necessary it is to have clear public health guidance coming from our city leadership. The B Together policy will help protect the health and safety of Bostonians, which in turn will help our industries rebound from the devastating effects of the pandemic. I am committed to working with this administration and my colleagues in the hospitality industry to increase vaccination rates and bring our communities back together,” Nia Grace, co-founder of the Boston Black Hospitality Coalition and owner of The Underground Cafe + Lounge and Darryl’s Corner Bar & Kitchen said in a statement.