AP
PHILADELPHIA (AP) – Philadelphia will require proof of COVID-19 vaccination starting Jan. 3 in order to dine indoors at bars, restaurants, indoor sporting events and other food-related establishments, city and health officials said Monday.
Public health director Cheryl Bettigole said the infection rate in Philadelphia has doubled in recent weeks and hospital admissions have increased by about 50%.
As colder weather pushes people indoors and more holiday gatherings are expected, Bettigole and Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney said evidence of the vaccination mandate should reduce the likelihood of transmission while also closing down indoor dining like the 2020 closure to prevent the beginning of the pandemic.
“I don’t want to close our restaurants or other catering facilities. I want them to stay open and work safely, ”said Bettigole.
Philadelphia is one of a growing number of cities in the United States, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York City, that require people to provide proof of vaccination to enter various types of businesses and venues.
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Kenney, a Democrat, said he visited New York two weeks ago, where restaurants and other home furnishings have been requiring proof of vaccination since August, and found the requirements easy to work with.
“I was in New York two weeks ago and it wasn’t an issue at all. Bring your ID and vaccination card and everything went smoothly, ”said Kenney. “So we’re doing this to stop the really serious thing that would be shutdown.”
As of January 3, customers and employees will be required to show their vaccination cards to enter establishments where dining is shared, including cinemas and cafes or bars in larger establishments such as shops or hotels.
Bettigole said that during the first two weeks of the mandate, clients will have the option to show a negative COVID-19 test in the past 24 hours in order to enter.
However, as of January 17th, proof of full vaccination will be required for guests.
The city mandate gives children ages 5-11 and staff a little more time to get vaccinated. The city is demanding that these groups receive a first dose by January 3 and a second dose by February 3.
The requirement doesn’t apply to people exempt from vaccination, including children under the age of 5 or those with a proven medical or religious exception, Bettigole said.
However, individuals with exceptions and children between the ages of 2 and 5 must present a negative COVID-19 test performed within 24 hours to enter facilities that can accommodate more than 1,000 people covered by the requirement. This includes sports facilities, cinemas, bowling alleys or rooms such as museum cafés in larger event locations.
She added that facilities such as schools, daycare centers and others such as soup kitchens or shelters that serve vulnerable populations do not require vaccination records or negative tests.
Bettigole said the mandate would cover the Wells Fargo Center, home of the Flyers and 76ers, or other indoor sports venues where people buy food and eat it in their seats. The rules won’t change for outdoor sporting events for now, but will apply to indoor areas and shops at Lincoln Financial Field, where the Eagles play, and similar venues.
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