As of Thursday morning, San Francisco joined New York City as the second major US city to require proof of vaccination upon entering certain indoor venues. Mayor London Breed announced the city will be requiring proof of full vaccination at high-risk indoor businesses such as restaurants, bars, gyms, and entertainment venues. The order goes into full effect August 20.

“This is to protect kids, is to protect those who can’t get vaccinated, is to make sure that we don’t go backwards, is to make sure that I never have to get up in front of you and say, ‘I’m sorry, I know we just reopened and now the city is closed again because we are seeing too many people die,’” Breed said.

The mandate does not pertain to those who are unable to receive a vaccine, such as children under the age of 12, or to customers ordering take-out, though it does extend to employees of such businesses. Unvaccinated employees will be given a two-month grace period, but are required to provide proof of full vaccination to their employers no later than October 13.

If you were vaccinated in California, the state can access your vaccination status digitally so you don’t need to carry your paper copy, but all those vaccinated outside the state will need to show their physical vaccination card upon entry.

The mandate extends to certain health care providers as well, including “workers at adult day centers, residential care facilities, dental offices, home health aides and pharmacists—who are not already required,” Breed said.

This is nothing out of the norm for San Francisco. Many bars and restaurants had already been requiring some sort of vaccination proof for customers. According to Janet Clyde, co-owner of San Francisco’s historic Vesuvio cafe, “Most people were really happy that we had started the policy… [h]aving the weight of the government behind you, the science, the health department makes it easier to enforce.”

While the policy may seem restrictive, its overall goal is to raise the city’s vaccination rate. According to the city’s online Covid database, 78% of eligible San Francisco residents are vaccinated. The city would like to see that number closer to 85 or 90% ideally.

New York was the first US city to announce vaccination mandates for indoor gatherings last week – albeit to lesser restrictions (only requiring proof of one dose) – but if this is any indicator of things to come, expect other large cities to follow suit.