Nancy Caswell, owner of Oak and Rowan in Boston and executive director of Massachusetts Restaurants United, called the last 22 months the most challenging ever for restaurant owners. I've been told I'm doing segregation similar to what happened to Black people," Volk said. In New York City, proof of vaccination will be required for indoor dining beginning Aug. 16. The number of new cases of COVID-19 children continues to rise according to a new report from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Childrens Hospital Association. Cities including Boston and Chicago have added their own vaccine requirements amidst the surge of the omicron variant, but other restaurant owners have already pushed back on the Portland petition, saying businesses should be able to decide on their own if they want to require vaccines. endobj The majority of them only apply to state and local governments, meaning private businesses can mandate vaccination for customers. In a statewide referendum 72% of voters favored the change. Republican gubernatorial candidate Geoff Diehl, meanwhile, called the policies "clear violations of the civil rights of anyone who lives in, works in, or travels to the city" and said they "will make it even more difficult for Boston's economy to recover from the pandemic. Find a Treatment Site Please note the display name will appear on screen when you participate. All rights reserved, Much of New England Should Wear Masks Indoors, Under CDC Guidance, NYC to Require Proof of Vaccination for Indoor Dining, Theatres, Gyms, 31 Pounds of Fentanyl Seized After Being Shipped to Maine Restaurant, Tens of Thousands of New Englanders Wake Up Monday to No Power, Man Convicted in Deadly 2021 Belmont Road Rage Attack: LIVE UPDATE, Patrice Bergeron Will Take Some Time Before Deciding Future With Bruins, Disastrous End to Bruins' 2022-23 Season Will Haunt the Franchise Forever. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. No one in person has been upset about it. She said the restaurant has taken some criticism online about the move, but most people are supportive. Vilkhu said he's not afraid of losing business over the decision. Were a bar. All Rights Reserved. *all teachers, staff, and students in K-12 schools wear face coverings, regardless of vaccination status or community transmission level. Visit our COVID-19 FAQ for more! There are also some definite opponents of the vaccine requirement, including the owner of Gritty McDuff's Brew Pub in Portland, who told NBC affiliate News Center Maine that "the city of Portland should respect each business' right to implement their own vaccine mandate.'". For NPR News, I'm Robbie Feinberg in Portland, Maine. Visit the citys COVID-19 Information page for more info. 1 0 obj Edited by Liz O. Baylen and Mike Benoist. Find places to stay, things to do, restaurants, shops, group meeting services, venues, and much more. Childrenage 5 years can only get a Pfizer-BioNTech booster. Kristen Hawley writes about the restaurant business from San Francisco. Food and Drug Administration approval for schoolchildren is expected sometime this fall or winter. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Even Les Caves/Le Clos and Quaintrelle, which don't open until August 13 and 29, respectively, have already announced vaccine requirements ahead of their opening. "The idea of a restaurant is a place for . And in my mind, that means making sure people know that they're protected," he said. I didn't have a huge client base coming into this pandemic, so I was kind of walking a pretty thin line throughout the whole thing. Learn more. COVID-19 treatment is available for people who are at risk for severe disease. COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective at preventing severe illness and can help limit the spread of the virus that causes it. Hi, to comment on stories you must create a commenting profile. "It is hard to describe how disinterested we are in prying, even in this minimal way, into the medical history of our guests," reads an Instagram post from San Francisco's Zuni Cafe announcing its vaccine mandate for indoor dining. Anyone can access the link you share with no account required. COVID19 Prevention Checklist Industry Guidance. The restaurants rule is just one of many vaccine mandates starting to become more common with the delta variant of COVID-19 surging across the country. Produced by Will Reid and Michael Simon Johnson. (Effective May 24, 2021) Maineupdated its Moving Maine Forward planto lift all capacity limits and physical distancing requirements in all outdoor public settings as well as capacity limits for indoor public venues and physical distancing requirements, except in settings where people would be removing their face coverings. The Portland Hunt & Alpine Club is one week into enforcing its new vaccine requirement for indoor dining and co-owner Briana Volk says that asking customers to produce a vaccination card has gone well. With a Press Herald subscription, you can gift 5 articles each month. His announcement was made three days earlier than the mandate issued Tuesday by New York City officials that people must be vaccinated to eat indoors or go to an indoor gym. GREG DUGAL: We have been primarily opposed to mandates. She's spent the last 10 years writing about restaurant technology and the future of hospitality and was among the first journalists to cover these topics with regularity. For instance, if a vaccinated student falls ill with COVID-19, the system could check their vaccination records, and the student would be disciplined if the record is found to be fraudulent. President Biden signed into law a House bill on April 10 that immediately ended the COVID-19 presidential declaration of national emergency established in March 2020. On Monday, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that proof of vaccination will soon be required to dine inside at New York City restaurants. To get one, go to the subscriptions page. Boston officials said the city plans to create its own proof-of-vaccination app, modeled after the Key to NYC app in New York City. K. Immunization means a vaccine, antitoxin, or other substances used to increase an The Maine Hospital Association is having preliminary discussions with state health officials about vaccine requirements for staff, once the FDA gives full approval to the vaccines. Its really not a big deal. I can't say what our opinion will be on this particular one because, again, we have not seen it. The moves mean that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID-19 vaccination record card issued when a person is inoculated will become important proof of protection, either shown directly or, perhaps, photographed or scanned so that the image can be uploaded into an application or portal used to verify vaccination. Read the rest here. Vaccinations - including primary series and booster shots - are being administered across the state in a variety of locations from pharmacies, to healthcare provider offices, to community clinics and more. Tests are free of charge and results are generally available in as little as one hour. Visitors from all U.S. states are welcome to visit Maine without restrictions or testing. John Porter, MaineHealth spokesman, said the vaccination card is not the be-all, end-all record and that the health networks human resources department will work with employees to verify that they got their shots. The Portland Hunt & Alpine Club is one week into enforcing its new vaccine requirement for indoor dining and co-owner Briana Volk says that asking customers to produce a vaccination card has. "We would probably have to close down the books, because you can't survive on that," he said. Visit our COVID-19 FAQ for more! NPR reports that nine states have enacted laws with some prohibitions on vaccine mandates. Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration. Going forward, the planned vaccine schedule is as follows: March 3, 2021: All residents age 60 and older. Asked if that move was validating to him, Malin replied that he is not looking for validation in this, Im just looking to avoid another COVID shutdown for our restaurant, and that believed his move was in the best interest of community health. The COVID-19 federal public health emergencya separate declaration by the Secretary of Health and Human Services from January 2020remains in effect for now. MACDOUGAL: My goal with signing this petition is to protect our frontline workers and our health care workers and keep them out of the hospital. Maines other 14 counties currently have moderate levels of community transmission according to the U.S. CDC and are thus not subject to the first recommendation. With more vaccine mandates in Maine, you may need proof that youre inoculated, MaineHealth will require staff, including Maine Med employees, to be vaccinated by Oct. 1, UMaine System will require COVID-19 vaccines for students on campus this fall, Some Portland-area restaurants now requiring vaccinations for indoor diners, Hunt & Alpine Club is still one of the few taking the plunge, Fake COVID-19 vaccine cards online worry college officials, Frustrated by CMPs delays, solar industry asks PUC to oversee reviews for grid connections, Another 360 COVID-19 cases reported over 3-day period, Towns challenge new Maine law meant to ease housing crisis, With shelter closing and apartments rising, Portlands Bayside awaits transformation, Big storm to bring flood risk, gusty winds and high seas to Maine, Maine cities, towns face historic tax increases as costs rise relentlessly, Storm prompts flash flood warnings, knocks out power to thousands. With 21,137 New Confirmed Cases, U.S. CDC Says People Should Avoid Cruise Travel, Regardless of Vaccination Status', 31 Pounds of Fentanyl Seized After Being Shipped to Maine Restaurant, Tens of Thousands of New Englanders Wake Up Monday to No Power, Man Convicted in Deadly 2021 Belmont Road Rage Attack: LIVE UPDATE, Patrice Bergeron Will Take Some Time Before Deciding Future With Bruins, Disastrous End to Bruins' 2022-23 Season Will Haunt the Franchise Forever. As the pandemic wore on and the restaurant's opening crept closer, Stowaway figured he'd break the big table into small ones. See Offers. Tracy Chang, the owner of Pagu Restaurant in Cambridge, Mass., says she has concerns about physical safety as some customers are enraged by her mask mandate. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. As COVID-19 variants emerge, restaurants are looking for guests to show proof of vaccination or negative test results in order to avoid shutting down dining rooms again. Some Portland city councilors, like Pious Ali, have said they fully support a restaurant vaccine requirement, but councilors have recently stalled on similar measures like a citywide mask mandate, an issue that is expected to be taken up for a third time this coming Monday. In 2019 the Maine legislature repealed the religious and philosophical exemptions. The Portland Hunt and Alpine Club, Crown Jewel and Little Giant have all recently said that anyone who eats at their establishments indoors must have received the shots. The city'sfirst cases of the highly contagious omicron variant were detected last week. The staff are getting unfairly targeted, Malin explained. Enter your email and password to access comments. This includes people who have received all primary series doses and people who have previously received one or more original (monovalent) boosters at least 2 months ago. Janet Mills announced an aggressive . //t;1N23V0hN?Q(/N(`%Rzxp0m#TI-B9KYR[IaXr,TD[&B|rCc!SAQ+MWSGhMjj}#Mc{xVh)eJsj*>u6FWs9}I~B)?aoY],L<4e+b7pdC>x&R&|_p^g/=lPC1Gfb }aA#D*_hnt#?KF 3|#Ft5u0KB x]nCiCVGlG.S:W. Pour en savoir plus sur la faon dont nous utilisons vos donnes personnelles, veuillez consulter notre politique relative la vie prive et notre politique en matire de cookies. April 19, 2021: All residents age 16 and older. Janet Mills signed a bill in May tightening vaccination rules for those attending school in Maine, but the stricter requirements don't . Call1-855-608-5172 to reserve a ride at least 48 hours in advance of your appointment. State House News Service contributed to this report. The vaccine mandate will apply to individuals age 5 and older at indoor spaces that serve food, including indoor restaurants, bars, sports venues (including Wells Fargo Center), movie theaters and cafes within larger establishments starting in January, although children ages 5 and 3 months to 11 will have until Feb. 3 to complete a full . It looks like you do not have any active subscriptions. The high-end concept, slated to open in a few months, revolves around one long communal table where strangers are encouraged to interactnot exactly a COVID-era dining experience. "Many have already implemented proof of vaccination independently. Vilkhu wonders if a national recommendation might be on the way. FEINBERG: Now MacDougal and other Portland restaurant owners are petitioning the city to require proof of vaccination for certain indoor public spaces, including eateries. Will Restaurants Screen Guests for Vaccination? BOSTON Editor's note: The above video aired on Dec. 17. Call 1-855-608-5172 to reserve a ride at least 48 hours in advance of your appointment. What events are happening this week/month in Portland? Details are still emerging on how employers and schools will implement vaccine requirements as a condition of work or to attend classes. Learn more. stream ROBBIE FEINBERG, BYLINE: In November of 2019, Isaac MacDougal opened his cocktail bar Cocktail Mary. In New England, some music venues and restaurants in Portland, Maine, are now requiring proof of vaccination before entrance, as is a popular performance venue in Portsmouth, New Hampshire . They were never going to be our guests. "Today we stand with Mayor Wu moving into this next chapter," she said. In Portland, Maine, several local restaurants are now calling on the City Council to require customers to get vaccines. FILE - Maine Gov. The proof of vaccination requirement for indoor venues will go into effect starting Jan. 15 for everyone ages 12 and up. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. The U.S. CDC determines level of community transmission based on the number of cases in the last 7 days per 100,000 people and the percentage of tests in the last 7 days that have a positive result. A proposal that would give Maine one of the least restrictive abortion laws in the country came up for . Wu said over 90% of the city's 18,000 workers are already vaccinated, but anyone who is not will have to do so by the Jan. 15 deadline as a condition of employment. Janet Mills speaks at a news conference, Jan. 17, 2023, in Augusta, Maine. %PDF-1.7 People dine at a restaurant at Hudson Yards AFP via Getty Images Instead, when the restaurant opens in October, it'll require guests to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test. CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) met today to discuss these COVID-19 vaccine . This is just another way of carding, Volk said. The third dose can be administered at . Evan Sung for The New York Times. (SOUNDBITE OF YONDERLING'S "WEST WINDOW"). This profile is in addition to your subscription and website login. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. AUGUSTA ( BDN) -- Gov. Copyright 2022 NPR. The bar opened for indoor dining just a few months ago with precautions. Some require appointments but many are operating as walk-in sites. According to the U.S. CDC, York and Piscataquis counties have substantial levels of community transmission at this time, which means that individuals should wear face coverings in indoor public settings, regardless of vaccination status. They says the mandate would protect front-line workers amid a surge in COVID-19 cases. All rights reserved. "So we stand here proud to support Mayor Wu and her team's leadership as we trust in the science, we believe in the experts and we move forward to do what it takes to slow the spread of COVID-19.". If the page does not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the page. "The idea of a restaurant is a place. 1. The state maintains a database of vaccinations given, and other states have set up similar systems. "For too many months and years, our businesses have been forced to act on their own," the mayor said. To find a location near you, check the vaccination sites webpage. 2 0 obj Most communicate the requirement to diners when they book a reservation. But as conditions improved in San Francisco, Stowaway realized he didn't want to compromise his vision for Osito. "We know that people respect us, and we know that we have led the charge on COVID throughout the last year, we know that we're looked at as one of the leaders. View Maines COVID-19 vaccination dashboard. Create a commenting profile by providing an email address, password and display name. "They have to protect businesses. OpenTable App to Offer Vaccination Verification for Making Restaurant Reservations, Cities Drop Mask and Vaccine Requirements for Indoor Dining After Latest CDC Guidelines Update, Los Angeles Moves Forward on Vaccine Requirements for Indoor Dining, Review Site Trolls Are Targeting Restaurants That Ask for Proof of Vaccination. Portland Restaurants Petition for COVID Vaccine Requirement at City Eateries Some restaurants in Portland, Maine, have signed onto a petition urging the city council to require patrons to be. Already registered? Among restaurants in Maine, the Hunt & Alpine Club is still one of the few taking the plunge to require vaccination for indoor dining. Hosted by Sabrina Tavernise. The Maine Immunization Programs complete provider resource. Klibanksy and others who support the petition think a blanket vaccine rule would create one simple standard for business owners with backing from city leaders, which would reduce conflict between restaurant owners and patrons who may disagree with individual restaurants requiring vaccines on their own. They should receive their second dose at least 21 days and up to eight weeks after the first dose. At times the chanting made it difficult for those at the podium to hear themselves speak. You will receive an email to complete the registration. A mandate keeps staff and diners safe, he said, and hopefully helps keep COVID in check. We have an expectation that people will provide accurate information, Demeritt said. endobj Expertise: restaurant technology and operations. Alex Wight, owner of Crown Jewel, said his restaurant will also be using an honor system for now. We're ready to take this step forward to protect our residents.". The proof of vaccination requirement for indoor venues will go into effect starting Jan. 15 for everyone ages 12 and up. "You're putting them in a really difficult position to either be faced with backlash from guests or lose business," she said. A week ago, Briana Volk, co-owner of Portland Hunt + Alpine Club in Portland, Maine, started requesting guests be vaccinated to eat inside in what she calls "pretty loose terms"a request on the website, language on social media. Wu said the new requirements will not affect outdoor dining or outdoor events like First Night Boston. Tests are paid for by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, and are offered free of charge. Get answers for frequently asked questions about vaccinations here. The official site for the Greater Portland region of Maine. I deliberately turned comments off on our Instagram to prevent any unpleasant commentary. With Nina Feldman. Following FDA regulatory action, CDC has taken steps to simplify COVID-19 vaccine recommendations and allow more flexibility for people at higher risk who want the option of added protection from additional COVID-19 vaccine doses. "I was feeling really concerned about COVID numbers and thinking about coming to work before seeing family," said Kate Klibansky, a bartender for Big Tree Hospitality, which owns Eventide and several other Portland restaurants. Robert Long, spokesman for the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said Monday that while the agency does not issue replacement cards, those whove lost their card can email [emailprotected] or call 207-287-3746 to obtain a copy of their vaccination record, which would be sent by email or regular mail. These tests are PCR (polymerase chain reaction) and are considered a gold standard for the detection of COVID-19. Overall, the reaction has been positive. On Tuesday night, about 20 people descended on Dame, in Greenwich Village, to protest the restaurant's request that indoor diners provide proof of vaccination . I have young kids that are not eligible. On the heels of Boston and New York deciding to implement COVID-19 vaccine requirements to eat indoors at restaurants, a group of eateries in Portland, Maine, is hoping city leaders will implement that type of mandate. What Will Make Restaurants Feel Safe in the COVID-19 Era? There were still those who chose to use direct messaging to voice their opinions, however, Wright said in an email. Instead, when the restaurant opens in October, it'll require guests to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test within 48 hours of dining. However, she added, "it's important to have our city on our side.". Vaccination is the most effectiveway to protect you and your family from COVID-19. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code. The plan also establishes a target reopening date of March 26, 2021 for Maine bars and tasting rooms which will be required to operate under the Seated Food and Drink COVID-19 Checklist. Wu said she has been in touch with New York officials, where a similar vaccine requirement has been in place for months. Campana Proof of vaccination required for customers 12 years old and older to. Si vous ne souhaitez pas que nos partenaires et nousmmes utilisions des cookies et vos donnes personnelles pour ces motifs supplmentaires, cliquez sur Refuser tout. A growing number of colleges, health care systems, the military, governments and major employers also are implementing vaccine mandates as a condition of employment or to attend school. All three people were unvaccinated young adults, and all had mild symptoms, the Boston Public Health Commission said. Heres why. The order is the first of its kind for a U.S. city, and restaurants can be fined for noncompliance. VERIFY: The COVID-19 vaccine is free in Maine, even if you don't have insurance. Masks are not required outdoors, but those visiting Portland, Maine are required to wear masks indoors in public areaswith an exception for businesses that require proof of COVID-19 vaccination for all who enter. Free testing for COVID-19 is widely available in Maine. Of course, restaurants face negative reactions online every day when it comes to COVID safety protocols. COVID-19 Prevention Latest vaccine updates As vaccines become available, find the latest updates here. The authoritative record of NPRs programming is the audio record. Maine CDC recommends everyone stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccination, including all primary series doses and boosters for their age group: For more information, see this FAQ. Lorsque vous utilisez nos sites et applications, nous utilisons des, authentifier les utilisateurs, appliquer des mesures de scurit, empcher les spams et les abus; et. Supporters argue that a mandate would help both workers and diners feel safer and help restaurants stay open during the current wave of COVID-19 cases. MACDOUGAL: Honestly, I haven't gotten any - I haven't had any problems. From outside Monday's press conference at Boston City Hall, protesters could be heard chanting "U-S-A! Boston Mayor Michelle Wu announced new proof of vaccination requirements for restaurants and other indoor venues including gyms and theaters on Monday. State and local governments are divided, often by party lines, over how mandates are received and enforced. "If you spend $295 to buy a ticket with us and you can't let your guard down to have the experience, we're failing to provide that level of service.". The caf has had its own requirement that patrons be fully vaccinated and, according to Neri, initial feedback after one week is positive. Immunizations. U-S-A!" They asked him some of the same questions about his restaurant's policy and about how diners are reacting to it, he said. Greg Dugal with the trade group HospitalityMaine says he's still waiting for more details on the plan before weighing in. If your 6-month to 4 year-old child receives the Pfizer vaccine, it is a three-dose primary series. and even singing lyrics from "The Star-Spangled Banner," including the line, "O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave." The state dropped nearly all coronavirus safety requirements for restaurants and bars. Maine allows more time for required vaccinations as new COVID-19 cases nearly double Enforcement will begin Oct. 29 rather than Oct. 1, to give health care workers more time to get fully. The U.S. military added the COVID-19 vaccine to its list of mandatory vaccinations on Monday. COVID-19 testing is free andwidely available in Maine without an appointment. "This is meant to keep each and every one of our city workers safe," she said.