San Francisco bars might quickly require patrons to point out proof of vaccination
San Francisco bars may require proof of COVID vaccination
Amber Lee from KTVU reports.
SAN FRANCISCO – Members of the San Francisco Bar Alliance are considering new requirements, including masks and requiring people to show their vaccination cards upon entry as cases increase across the city.
The changes could go into effect in some bars as early as this weekend amid growing concerns over a COVID resurgence.
At the Kezar Pub near Golden Gate Park, owner Cyril Hackett said all of his staff will have to wear masks as of Wednesday even though they are fully vaccinated.
He’s also considering another change: requiring guests to provide proof of vaccination.
On Tuesday evening, sports fans huddled in the pub to watch the NBA finals. No vaccination certificate was required, but Hackett says that will likely change soon.
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“We certainly don’t want to go back to where we were in the past. We have lost thousands of dollars, months of business. Our employees have been unemployed,” he said.
Because his pub shows sports from around the world, including the weekend Olympics, Hackett says high vaccination rates among San Franciscans are no guarantee of safety.
“San Francisco is not just about San Francisco. We have a lot of people coming to town, ”he said.
Hackett is among the 500 members of the San Francisco Bar Alliance who either tend or have introduced to require proof of vaccination from guests prior to entry.
“I think it’s a great idea. I don’t feel comfortable going to a place and not knowing who is vaccinated and who is not,” said patron Martha Abbene, speaking out in favor of COVID concerns despite the cool weather decided to sit outside.
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“If people are not vaccinated now, it will find them,” said Dr. Susan Philip, San Francisco Public Health Officer, speaking to an audience at Manny’s Cafe to answer questions about the Delta variant. She calls it the “pandemic of the unvaccinated”.
“The Delta variant is very worrying. It is spreading quickly. And as it stands at this rate, people who are not vaccinated are likely to get infected. Switching from person to person is that effective,” she said. In addition, while masking indoors is recommended, there is no substitute for vaccination.
“I have 5 family members who have died from COVID and I could just tell people it’s real. Please get your syringes, ”said Charles Pleasant from Oakland.
“It’s pretty scary. I wish you could do something about it. But I’m doing my part,” said Alameda’s Katherine Watanabe.
Back at the Kezar Pub, Hackett says he couldn’t afford another closure: “It might upset some people. But our business is important and our livelihoods and the livelihoods of my employees are very important to us.”
The pub owner says he will be working on the logistics and legality of presenting a vaccination card from the guests in the next few days.
He and the San Francisco Bar Alliance said this time around they want to forestall COVID cases before the situation gets out of hand.
