By Ken Stern 

Vaccination now needed to eat inside of Olympic Peninsula restaurants

 

September 8, 2021



Anyone eating out – that is, indoors – at a restaurant or bar in Jefferson and Clallam Counties must provide proof they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Doctor Allison Berry, health officer for Jefferson and Clallam counties, issued a public health order Sept. 2 that took effect last Saturday, the 4th.

“Indoor bars and restaurants are known to pose a high risk for COVID-19 transmission, as they encourage unmasking of large groups of people indoors,” Dr. Berry is quoted in a Jefferson County press release. “Our goal is to make these safer places to be and to reduce transmission in our communities, allowing our hospitals to keep functioning and our schools to open more safely this fall.”

The release lists acceptable forms of proof of vaccination as a completed CDC vaccination card, a state Department of Health Certificate of COVID-19 Vaccination, a printed copy of a state Department of Health vaccine record, a photograph of any of those documents or an app-based vaccine passport.

It states that employees of bars and restaurants who mask continuously while in the building do not need to provide proof of vaccination. Additionally, children under 12, who are ineligible for vaccination, may enter without showing proof.

Unvaccinated people can still be seated outdoors, according to the order.

The release notes that “as of last month, 495 outbreaks of COVID-19 have been traced to restaurants and bars in Washington State, including several in Jefferson and Clallam Counties, according to the most recent outbreak situation report from the Washington State Department of Health.”

Berry said, “given the ability of the delta variant to spread beyond six feet when people are unmasked indoors, we believe that a vaccine requirement will be more effective and less costly than the capacity limitations we saw last year. We want to keep businesses open while protecting the public. This is how we do it.

“With hospitals around our region stretched to the breaking point, we need to do everything we can to keep our communities safe” Dr. Berry said.

“Getting vaccinated with this incredible vaccine, which is safe, effective, free and life-saving, is simply the right thing to do.”

In Skagit County, the Lincoln Theatre now requires proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test for entry to all performances and events.

Their Sept. 3 website posting reads: “We care deeply about the health and safety of our patrons, artists, staff, volunteers and community.

As such, we have been working with state and local health officials, our board of directors, members and performers and have determined that we will be joining many other performing arts venues across the Pacific Northwest region in requiring proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test for entry to all performances and events in our theater.

Additionally, masking is currently required inside the Lincoln.

All patrons, staff and volunteers will be required to wear masks, except while actively eating or drinking.”

Front of house staff are fully vaccinated, the posting states.

Clallam County has a 14 day new coronavirus case rate of 995.2 per 100,000 people, with a seven day hospitalization rate of 32.6, the state department of health reported Sept. 3. Its population is about 71,500; Port Angeles is the county seat. Jefferson County’s new 14 day case rate per 100,000 residents is 318.8 and its seven day hospitalization rate is 15.5, based on the same state data. Its population is about 33,000; Port Townsend is the county seat. Skagit County’s new 14 day case rate is 505.9 and its seven day hospitalization rate is 16.9, from the same data. The county’s population is about 130,000.

 

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