Covid 19: New York City to offer vaccines to tourists

Mobile vaccine clinics will be rolled out for tourists in places including Times Square. Photo / Mark Lennihan, AP

New York City hopes to begin offering coronavirus inoculations to tourists by stationing vaccination vans at Times Square and other attractions, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Thursday.

The city needs state approval to vaccinate visitors and hopes to get an OK as soon as this weekend. The state Health Department didn't immediately comment on the proposal.

De Blasio called it "a positive message to tourists: 'Come here. It's safe, it's a great place to be and we're going to take care of you.'"

"It's a show of goodwill. It's a welcome," but not a requirement, the Democratic mayor said. He said the city has no plans to track tourists' vaccination status.

Besides Times Square, the vans would appear in such places as Central Park, Brooklyn Bridge Park and the High Line elevated park, de Blasio said. Visitors would get the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine, so they wouldn't have to follow up with a second shot.

Currently jabs are only available to those who live, work or study in the city and would require approval from the Cuomo government.

"We need the state to alter the rule that will allow us to provide vaccinations to folks from out of town," de Blasio said.

Although many visitors might leave New York before the vaccine's full protection kicks in, de Blasio argued that "the more people get vaccinated, the better" for the city and world.

BREAKING: Any New Yorker who gets a #COVID19 vaccine at the @AMNH site will get a voucher for themselves and 3 guests to return for a free visit to the museum! https://t.co/rManPTk9nS pic.twitter.com/gK45mwmZdi

— NYC Mayor's Office (@NYCMayorsOffice) April 23, 2021

Last week a mobile vaccination clinic in the American Museum of Natural History was handing out free tickets to exhibits.

Using New York's attractions to encourage vaccine uptake, but the Mayor's Office hopes now to incentivise tourism with jabs.

Under another plan announced Thursday, tourists and New Yorkers alike could see some new artwork and performances in public spaces.

De Blasio said the city would spend $25 million to hire over 1,500 artists and performers for an "Artists Corps" that would create murals, pop-up shows and other works.

Cultural Affairs Commissioner Gonzalo Casals said details would be announced later.

- Associated Press