With the Delta variant of the coronavirus spreading, an increasing number of institutions are requiring proof of vaccination in hopes of protecting both workers and the public.
With the Delta variant of the coronavirus spreading, an increasing number of institutions are requiring proof of vaccination in hopes of protecting both workers and the public. The current surge in cases is hitting the unvaccinated community hard. People who are vaccinated enjoy strong protections. “The tragic reality is that almost every single person hospitalized and dying from COVID-19 is unvaccinated and these hospitalizations and deaths are, for the most part, preventable,” Barbara Ferrer, the Los Angeles County public health director, said in a statement. On July 17, Los Angeles County started requiring all residents, regardless of vaccination status, to again wear masks in indoor public spaces as case counts ticked upward. But some governments and private businesses are going a step further, with rules that include proof of vaccination. So far,61.9% of L.A. County residents have received at least one dose of vaccine, and 54.2% are fully vaccinated, according to data compiled by The Times. Here is a rundown of places requiring proof: A growing number of restaurants want proof of vaccination or a recent negative test. That uptick followed announcements by at least 33 Los Angeles bars that they also had taken the step, according to L.A. Taco, which has published a running list. And on July 26, the San Francisco Bar Owner Alliance announced that it was recommending that its 300-plus member establishments require such proof from patrons who wished to sit indoors. At least 60 bars and restaurants are requiring proof of vaccination in the Seattle area, according to a list compiled by the Seattle Times. That came after at least a dozen bars were temporarily closed the week before as a result of employees either having contracted the coronavirus or having come into contact with infected individuals, the news outlet reported. Conservatory in West Hollywood was one of the first L.A. restaurants to take the step, owner Paul Kalt said. Its requirement that diners show either proof of vaccination or a negative test result from the last 72 hours took effect Tuesday. “We feel that it’s a really hard choice to make, to take this stand, because it’s not always going to be popular with everyone,” Kalt said. “But ultimately, we think that it’s the most responsible thing to do. “We want to try to stay ahead of the game this time,” he said.
