The End of COVID-Era Restrictions Is Imminent

Kolker at the Bitter End on June 12 on a vax-only night

New York State is coming very close to ending its remaining COVID-19 restrictions. As of today, 69.9 percent of adult New Yorkers have received the first dose of their COVID-19 vaccination series. Governor Andrew Cuomo announced on June 7 that he would lift most restrictions once 70 percent is achieved.

Capacity restrictions, social distancing, cleaning and disinfection, health screening, and contact information for tracing will become optional at most commercial settings. Large-scale event venues, however, must continue to follow the state's guidelines until more New Yorkers are vaccinated.

Michael Hill at Terra Blues on June 12; the recently reopened blues club aims to be COVID-free

E.W. Harris at the Rockwood Music Hall, Stage 2; the recently reopened music club requires proof of vaccination of all ticketholders

Unvaccinated individuals will continue to be responsible for maintaining proper social distancing of six feet and wearing a mask, as per the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Consistent with the state's implementation of the recent CDC guidance, masks will still be required for unvaccinated individuals. The Department of Health continues to strongly recommend masks and six feet of social distancing in indoor settings where vaccination status of individuals is unknown.

"The lifting of our COVID restrictions is a sign of how hard New Yorkers have worked to contain the spread of the virus and protect their communities," Cuomo said last Monday. "With numbers trending at record lows, it is clear that the vaccine is effective and that it is an invaluable tool against the virus. While we have come so far it is still imperative that those who have not received the vaccine do so, so that they may enjoy the state's reimagined reopening to the fullest extent possible."

The Café Wha? House Band at Café Wha? on June 2; the indoor venue replaced its dance floor with booths upon reopening last fall

Desmond Scaife at Café Wha's outdoor venue on June 4; partitions separate performers and customers

After 70 percent of adult New Yorkers are vaccinated, businesses may choose to continue to adhere to the state's guidance or implement other health precautions for their employees and patrons. Businesses are also authorized to require masks and six feet of social distancing for employees and patrons within their establishments. Any mask requirements that businesses choose to implement must adhere to applicable federal and state laws and regulations (e.g., Americans with Disabilities Act).

Many downtown music venues already relaxed their restrictions in recent weeks. Partitions between tables have been removed, and patrons are standing and/or dancing. A year ago, the State Liquor Authority made frequent rounds of restaurants and bars to either fine or close venues for these and other infractions, but reports of this kind of surveillance and penalization in recent months has been sparse or non-existent.

Left to right, percussionist Dave Donen, poet Puma Perl, and vocalist/guitarist Joe Sztabnik teamed at the Anyway Café on June 7; the restaurant's indoor tables are separated by partitions

Members of Barynya and the Typsy Gypsy Girls performed together at the Anyway Café on June 5

Increasingly, area music clubs are instituting vaccination-only nights, which allow for full capacity. Kolker and Where Is Phi performed two of the initial vax-only shows at The Bitter End on June 12. Next door, Terra Blues reopened on June 6 as a vax-only venue. The recently-reopened Rockwood Music Hall also is a vax-only venue. At Arlene's Grocery, which has a few concerts listed for June with increased bookings anticipated for July, most shows will be vax-only, including June shows by The Jones Title, Toy Machine!, Common Kicks and Lady Picture Show.

"We have both vaccinated and vaccination-optional shows at the moment, and vaccination-optional shows come with restrictions," Jennifer "Blue" Gonzales, general manager of Arlene's Grocery, told The Manhattan Beat regarding the recently-reopened venue's current door policy. "We will be changing to only vaccinated starting in July because we will be having multiple bands in one night. We will be continuing to livestream all shows so that unvaccinated fans also can participate at home."

Yemen Blues at Drom on June 9; the venue's dance floor was replaced by tables and chairs separated by partitions

The Black Soul Experience at Groove on June 4; the venue's indoor tables are separated by partitions

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The Manhattan Beat covers New York City's live music developments as they happen. All photographs are by Everynight Charley Crespo, except when noted otherwise. For a list of Manhattan venues that are presenting live music regularly, swing the desktop cursor to the right and click on the pop-up tab "Where to Find Live Music." For a listing of upcoming concerts for live audiences, visit The Manhattan Beat's June 2021 calendar.