US/ New York for kids at the moment

[GrandPrismatic]

Hello
We are looking to travel to the US in the spring - kids are 4 and 6. I know kids over 2 (currently) have to fly with facemasks but wondering what it will be like when we are there? Do kids have to wear masks indoors (restaurants/museums/shows/shops etc) Assuming playgrounds are open? Any insights from locals (New York in particular) welcome.
Thanks!

over 5s need to be vaccinated to get into most places inc indoor dining

The rules change frequently but currently you have to wear a mask anywhere that doesn't require vaccination. So for restaurants you would need to prove vaccination status for your 6 year old, for museums etc. you would all have to wear masks.

You never have to wear masks outside and playgrounds are open.

Rules are different elsewhere in the US but in general masks are more common here than in the UK.

Arg! 6 year old not vaccinated, they are not routinely offered at that age here and I’m not sure I’d want it for them to be honest. That might be the dealbreaker. Are restrictions getting tighter?

This is the most up to date info on requirements.

www1.nyc.gov/site/doh/covid/covid-19-vaccines-keytonyc.page

The restrictions were tightened in mid December in response to Omicron. They might make some concessions in the spring if the cases are lower but I think it's unlikely they will lift the vaccine requirement.

I'm a New Yorker with a 2 year old. Children over the age of 2 have to wear masks inside - shops, supermarkets, cafes, kids classes, toy shops etc. no exceptions. No masks needed outside at playgrounds etc, and you can eat outdoors at restaurants if you're unvaccinated, but not indoors.

Any more specific questions? We've been indoor dining and going to museums with the toddler wearing masks etc. you need to book most places though, so you need to plan ahead. Just take your vaccine card and ID everywhere.

Thanks @allfurcoatnoknickers. I lived in New York for years so know my way around although that was pre-kids…was really looking forward to taking the kids as I know they would love it, but wondering whether the restrictions would spoil the experience a bit…particularly if the 6 year old isn’t vaccinated so we would be limited in what we could do. It sounds so much more restrictive than here…..sigh…maybe next year!

@GrandPrismatic I think the vaccine requirement atm might be for 12+ for indoor dining? You might want to check on that.

Still have to wear masks everywhere though, but come the spring it might be nice enough to do mostly outdoor activities.

I think I read today that children have to be vaccinated to even enter the USA or they are introducing that. I’m not sure what age from though.

It’s a single vaccine from age 5 and double for age 12+ in NYC to be able to access indoor attractions and restaurants.

The vaccine requirements are 5+ now :(
Interesting about possibly needing a vaccine to even enter the US….it’s not currently a requirement but my goodness, surely that would cripple the tourist industry even further?!

I can’t think where I read it now. Maybe I misunderstood it. Tricky though if kids can’t go indoors.

Ah hear we go…this is a good fb page to ask questions on actually

NYC the place to be

We’ve just cancelled our trip to New York because of the vaccine requirements for the children . It will have to wait until they’re old enough to get the vaccine here / they offer the vaccine to the over 5’s

Yeah, I can see the vaccine requirement being an (insurmountable) issue.

However, once you're here it's really night right now - everywhere is less crowded, you can get reservations fairly easily and restaurants are less crowded, meaning DS has eaten in some really fancy places before he's 3. The free activities also haven't been inundated - we've done loads of lovely things which normally would be packed/full/stressful. It was magical to go on the Highline this summer and have it almost to ourselves - I've got some amazing photos of DS running and playing and having the time of his life. In a normal summer it would be impossible.

@allfurcoatnoknickers that’s partially why we booked to come this year - it seemed like the perfect time to come, flights were cheap. The hotel was cheaper. But, as you say, the vaccine thing is insurmountable because the U.K. isn’t vaccinating under the age of 12

Urgh gutted! Back to the drawing board :(

on the page below it says that children under 18 are exempt from the vaccine requirement to enter the US:

www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/proof-of-vaccination.html#faq-exceptions

I still wouldn't want to come to New York in the spring if I couldn't eat indoors though. It might still be too cold.

I was just in NYC. Shops, museums, restaurants etc in the tourist places are very strict about ensuring everyone over 2 is masked. I don't know about the suburbs.

Vaccine status is checked at every restaurant, museum and even some shops.

There are also mobile covid testing stations at most street corners and I don't think I passed one that didn't have a queue.

Also over here in states that have mask mandates (I don’t live in New York but I do live in a state with a mask mandate currently in place) there is little in the way of exemptions. I haven’t been back to the UK since this all started but from reading on here there are all sorts of exemptions for masks in the UK and I read posts about sunflower lanyards and exemption cards, etc. That doesn’t happen here. In my state we have to wear masks inside public places such as shops, theaters, etc. No mask, no entry. If you need something from the shops and you feel you can’t wear a mask you either place an order for delivery or send someone else in for you.

@PotteringAlong when you say you got cheap flights and hotels how much you talking about? I am looking for April and couldn't find a flight for less than £480 and accom for five nights was at least £700 for three people (which is fine). I wonder if flights are generally cheaper?

@BritWifeInUSA it’s funny reading about all the exempt people in the U.K. isn’t it? I’m in Australia and there was someone going into a shop recently not wearing a mask and the shopkeeper said “you need to wear a mask” and he said “Oh I’m exempt” and the shopkeeper said (picture broad Aussie accent) “well I’m not exempt from covid mate so either wear one or go somewhere else”
The only time I’ve seen people not wearing a mask are a couple of obviously disabled people and that’s literally it.

In Chicago area everyone wears a mask aged 2 and over, no exceptions.

Kids wear masks in schools and preschools all day every day, with strict hand sanitising protocols. Kids do a spit test once a week. Kids age 5 and over are vaccinated, and boosters are probably going to be mandatory too.

You only see young babies out without them, in supermarkets, etc.

While entry to places like supermarkets and libraries, etc is not currently restricted, it was in the beginning of the pandemic here, with long lines waiting to get into the supermarket on a one out/one in basis. And no shopping en famille was permitted - max two people per trolley in all my local supermarkets. This restriction of occupancy may be reintroduced if omicron continues to wreak havoc.

You have to show proof of vaccination to get into any restaurants, bars, etc. The state has introduced an app so you can port your vaccine history on your phone instead of a flimsy card. A QR code is scanned at entry to venues.

The exceptions I heard about are baffling.

I'm gutted. Been planning a big birthday trip for 2 years which is booked for April.

14yo will (just) be double vaxxed. 10yo won't have had anything unless rules change. Coming into winter here I was hopeful they would introduced vaccines here but I think if they can get through next month or so it will be off the cards until next winter if at all.

So it's off the cards. To make it even more annoying 14yo will be doing GCSE's next year so wipes out our holiday options really for another year in terms of timing as Easter / spring will be off the cards.

This was a one off so if we do something else 'big' we cannot afford to go to New York anytime soon.

@mathanxiety @BritWifeInUSA I saw masks being described as child abuse on Mumsnet this week. That and all the exemptions are baffling to me - it's just not a thing here. You wear the mask or you don't go inside.

@Newnormal99 I'm sorry about your trip . That must be so disappointing.