Several Portland, Maine, restaurants have decided to only allow people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to eat in their dining rooms. Peter's Bar & Grill Proof of vaccination required to sit inside; unvaccinated customers free to sit outdoors. Call 1-855-608-5172 to reserve a ride at least 48 hours in advance of your appointment. Its something I think about every day, he said. It looks like you do not have any active subscriptions. 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. We're ready to take this step forward to protect our residents.". Get answers for frequently asked questions about vaccinations here. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. All Rights Reserved. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Find a Treatment Site A lot of people have been writing false reviews to drag down our ratings, people wished wed go out of business and people put bets on when well go out of business, he added. "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. Vilkhu wonders if a national recommendation might be on the way. Major employers like Google, Tyson Foods, Walmart and others are joining health care systems in requiring vaccination as a condition of employment. Bangor Daily News called . As vaccines become available, find the latest updates here. The COVID-19 federal public health emergencya separate declaration by the Secretary of Health and Human Services from January 2020remains in effect for now. 2 0 obj Copyright 2022 NPR. mesurer votre utilisation de nos sites et applications. San Francisco city leaders are considering a similar requirement, they said on Wednesday, but as of this writing there's been no official federal guidance. All rights reserved. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. MACDOUGAL: Honestly, I haven't gotten any - I haven't had any problems. All Rights Reserved. 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 . Find a Testing Site COVID-19 Vaccination Vaccines are free and are available without needing an appointment. Boos could be heard at one point during the announcement. Unvaccinated customers can still dine on the patio. Primary series and updated booster vaccinations are available at locations across the state. Portland has re-launched our outdoor dining program allowing businesses to expand into public spaces, so visitors can enjoy food & drink while staying safe at unique, outdoor dining environments. 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. She launched her second newsletter, Expedite, independently three years later to continue chronicling the evolving restaurant technology industry. Diners can search restaurants based on those attributes, too. This is just another way of carding, Volk said. She also said all city employees must be vaccinated along that same timeline, eliminating a weekly testing option that had existed previously. RAPID TESTING SITES Tests offered at these sites are antigen tests, which are most accurate within the first 7 days of symptom onset. Just a few months later, the pandemic upended those plans. Among restaurants in Maine, the Hunt & Alpine Club is still one of the few taking the plunge to require vaccination for indoor dining. This story is part of The New Rules of Dining Out. See Offers. The city'sfirst cases of the highly contagious omicron variant were detected last week. 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. This pandemic has shown us that we are stronger than we ever imagined. Please note the display name will appear on screen when you participate. 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. Janet Mills speaks at a news conference, Jan. 17, 2023, in Augusta, Maine. Anyone age 18 and older can choose to receive a Novavax (monovalent) booster, if they are unable to receive or choose not to receive an updated Pfizer or Moderna booster. "Failure to get the vaccine because it's your own personal choice is not going to give you the same rights as it did before," said Lawrence Spasojevich, a civil rights and employment lawyer in New York. 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. These resources are available to assist and inform you about Maines COVID-19 vaccination efforts, and will be updated regularly. They says the mandate would protect front-line workers amid a surge in COVID-19 cases. AUBURN, Maine (AP) Employees of a Maine restaurant got a surprise when they opened a large wooden crate that they thought was a shipment of mugs they had recently ordered. State House News Service contributed to this report. Visitors from all U.S. states are welcome to visit Maine without restrictions or testing. afficher des publicits et des contenus personnaliss en fonction de vos profils de centres dintrt; mesurer lefficacit des publicits et contenus personnaliss; et. What is currently open in Portland? 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. The state dropped nearly all coronavirus safety requirements for restaurants and bars. 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. ", In New Orleans, Ashwin Vilkhu, chef-owner of Saffron NoLa, says he felt a sense of community responsibility to require vaccination or a recent negative test. Dan Demeritt, spokesman for the University of Maine System, said while fraud is possible in any system, any student who submits a fake vaccination card is risking discipline. The Department of Health and Human Services is offering a free option for Maine people who need a ride to and from a COVID-19 vaccination appointment. I deliberately turned comments off on our Instagram to prevent any unpleasant commentary. These tests are PCR (polymerase chain reaction) and are considered a gold standard for the detection of COVID-19. Visit our COVID-19 FAQ for more! View Maines COVID-19 vaccination dashboard. "The idea of a restaurant is a place for . COVID-19 VACCINATION All who are vaccinated may travel to Maine without restriction from any state within the U.S. View the CDCs public health recommendations for fully vaccinated peoplehere. "But if you're an individual that has a disability and can't get the vaccine because of the disability, then the business is just required to provide what would be considered a reasonable accommodation that doesn't pose an undue burden.". "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.". In his announcement, de Blasio said that he got a "very clear message" from the Department of Justice that such a mandate was appropriate. You will receive an email to complete the registration. Already have a commenting profile? Learn more. K-12 schools are so far not requiring COVID-19 vaccines for attendance, in large part because the vaccine isnt yet approved for those under age 12. Frequently Asked Questions About COVID-19 and Visiting Portland If I visit Portland from out of state, do I need to self-quarantine? "The idea of a restaurant is a place for someone to come and have an experience and be safe, to be taken out of what is happening in the world, and to be able to celebrate with each other. "We were certainly not the first in SF or the Bay [to do this]," said Nate Norris, Zuni Cafe's chef de cuisine. National news outlets have reported concerns that the system could be ripe for fraud, especially for returning college students willing to fork out $200 or more for fake immunization cards. Anyone can access the link you share with no account required. 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. 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." "If the public health experts and our mayor believe proof of vaccination is in the best interest of public health, we too stand behind that decision. Visit the citys COVID-19 Information page for more info. % Gado Gado is one of several Portland restaurants requiring proof of vaccination (in this case, for their indoor seating only). All people aged 6+ months are eligible for vaccination. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu announced new proof of vaccination requirements for restaurants and other indoor venues including gyms and theaters on Monday. Wu said the new requirements will not affect outdoor dining or outdoor events like First Night Boston. U-S-A!" 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. Mon, June 10th 2019, 2:47 AM PDT. But Chang says no amount of yelling is going to change her mask policy. The caf has had its own requirement that patrons be fully vaccinated and, according to Neri, initial feedback after one week is positive. They should receive their second dose at least 21 days and up to eight weeks after the first dose. *all teachers, staff, and students in K-12 schools wear face coverings, regardless of vaccination status or community transmission level. Already registered? The order is the first of its kind for a U.S. city, and restaurants can be fined for noncompliance. Boston Public Health Commission Executive Director Dr. Bisola Ojikutu said the number of COVID-19 cases in Boston has increased almost 90% compared to two weeks ago, with the city now averaging 369 new cases a day. window.__mirage2 = {petok:"Pyvx8dgeQciwstqNifid8mZTzPgWjsKTJOjbywq1xmM-1800-0"}; Social media accounts, email lists, and sites like Yelp and Google are generally the easiest ways for restaurants to keep their guests up to date on current dining requirements. 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. Greg Dugal with the trade group HospitalityMaine says he's still waiting for more details on the plan before weighing in. 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. Volk said customers at her Portland restaurant have started holding the card in hand or the photo of the card on their phone as they come in, ready to provide proof of their COVID-19 shots. 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. Several Portland, Maine, restaurants have decided to only allow people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to eat in their dining rooms. SWAB AND SEND SITES Any individual visiting the state with or without symptoms of COVID-19 can visit one of Maines multiple Swab & Send sites. Please wait for the page to reload. Will Restaurants Screen Guests for Vaccination? Expertise: restaurant technology and operations. Going forward, the planned vaccine schedule is as follows: March 3, 2021: All residents age 60 and older. State and local governments are divided, often by party lines, over how mandates are received and enforced. (Effective January 5, 2022) The City Council voted unanimously to implement a mask mandate for the city of Portland. Learn more. This Chef's Busier-Than-Ever Seoul Restaurants Give Him Hope, Advice for Chefs, by Chefs, on Living and Working During a Pandemic, Anyone Who Assaults Supermarket or Restaurant Workers Over Mask Mandates Could Face Felony Charges in Illinois, OpenTable Now Lets You Reserve Time to Shop for Groceries, Curfews Leave Restaurant Workers Confused and at Risk, Everything You Need to Know About the Restaurant Tipping Debate, San Francisco Sues DoorDash for Misclassifying Employees, Cities Are Capping Delivery App Fees to Protect Restaurants During the COVID-19 Crisis, proof of vaccination will soon be required to dine inside at New York City restaurants, private businesses can not require vaccinations, glut of false negative and inflammatory reviews. 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. AUGUSTA, Maine Maine will be one of the first states to require COVID-19 vaccines for health care workers after Gov. Where can you get the COVID-19 vaccine in Maine: CDC announces Maine vaccination sites. March 23, 2021: All residents age 50 and older. "We would probably have to close down the books, because you can't survive on that," he said. There have been threatening messages directed at him and restaurant staff online, over the phone and even in person, he said. FILE - Maine Gov. Wu's office said those communities, along with Arlington and Cambridge, are also working to advance their own vaccine requirements. %PDF-1.7 As of last week, about a dozen restaurants had signed, only a fraction of the total number in the city. 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. FEINBERG: For more than a year, Cocktail Mary only offered to-go cocktails or limited outdoor seating. COVID-19 testing is free andwidely available in Maine without an appointment. If your 6-month to 4 year-old child receives the Pfizer vaccine, it is a three-dose primary series. 1. VERIFY: The COVID-19 vaccine is free in Maine, even if you don't have insurance. City employees, contractors and volunteers are currently required to provide either proof of vaccination or a weekly negative test result. (SOUNDBITE OF YONDERLING'S "WEST WINDOW"). "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. FEINBERG: Whether Portland will institute new mandates will likely emerge on Monday night, when the City Council is set to meet next. MaineHealth, the parent company of Maine Medical Center in Portland and a health care network that includes 23,000 employees, is mandating that its employees get the COVID-19 shots by October. Childrenage 5 years can only get a Pfizer-BioNTech booster. Vous pouvez modifier vos choix tout moment en cliquant sur le lien Tableau de bord sur la vie prive prsent sur nos sites et dans nos applications. New Hampshire corrections officers on leave after psychiatric unit death, Supreme Court to consider case involving fishing boat monitor pay, Overnight rain and wind leaves Mainers with flooding and power outages, first cases of the highly contagious omicron variant, 'The Finest Christmas Tree' stems from Somerville, Maine, NHL pauses cross-border games, shuts down 6th team, Millinocket Marathon & Half event gave big boost to businesses, Indoor dining, including bars and restaurants, Indoor entertainment, recreational and event venues, including theater shows or sports games. Even before Monday's announcement, union leaders toldthe Boston Herald that they were looking into their legal options. We card people all the time. Generally, restaurants are within their rights requiring diners to prove their vaccination status if they want to eat inside, and simply objecting to the vaccinationfor whatever reasonisn't enough to skirt these rules. "You're putting them in a really difficult position to either be faced with backlash from guests or lose business," she said. I've been told I'm doing segregation similar to what happened to Black people," Volk said. (In Montana, which is an outlier, private businesses can not require vaccinations to offer service.). 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. With an estimated 675 colleges and universities mandating vaccinations for students and staff this fall, some who are opposed to getting their shots may be willing to purchase fake cards instead of stopping into a clinic or drugstore to get free and easily-available vaccines. Visit our COVID-19 FAQ for more! In this case, a reasonable accommodation could be seating unvaccinated guests at a socially distanced outdoor table, or asking them to produce a negative COVID test before dining. "Every single day, I have someone come in and thank us for doing this for our community and keeping us safe," she said. Create a commenting profile by providing an email address, password and display name. Children ages 611 years can get either a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna booster. As the delta variant of COVID-19 surges amid troubling news of its transmissibility and severity, chefs and restaurateurs say they're worried about the safety of their staff and their guests and a vaccine requirement will help keep everyone safe. All city employees will also be required to be vaccinated on the same timeline starting Monday. However, she added, "it's important to have our city on our side.". But just before our interview Vilkhu fielded a call from White House. Ive heard a lot of people say that they are happy we are doing this, because it makes them feel safer when they dine in, Volk said. Beginning Feb. 15, everyone will have to show proof of two doses. Most restaurants are flexible with the type of documentation they'll accept. 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. Learn more. From 2001 until 2019 Maine's statute requiring mandatory vaccines for health care workers contained an exemption for medical reasons and religious and philosophical objections. 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. To find a booster dose, find a vaccination site. Food and Drug Administration approval for schoolchildren is expected sometime this fall or winter. Many doctors offices and health care networks have copies of patients immunization records, including for COVID-19. April 21, 2023. Heres why. Updated: 9:10 AM EDT April 25, 2023 AUGUSTA, Maine Lawmakers in the Maine Legislature's Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services heard testimony on multiple bills aimed at lifting vaccine mandates and blocking future mandates from taking effect. Wu was joined for her announcement by municipal officials from Salem, Somerville and Brookline. People (ages 2+) must wear masks when inside public places. As of last week,. dvelopper et amliorer nos produits et services. State Vaccination Requirements State and local vaccination requirements for daycare and school entry are important tools for maintaining high vaccination coverage rates, and in turn, lower rates of vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs). 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. If a Maine resident loses a vaccination card, they can still prove they got their shots. We're not losing their business because it was business we never had, nor probably would ever have.". 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. 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. Everyone age5years and older are recommended to receive an updated (bivalent) booster. Her work has appeared in Food & Wine, Insider, Eater, the San Francisco Chronicle, and more. COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective at preventing severe illness and can help limit the spread of the virus that causes it. K. Immunization means a vaccine, antitoxin, or other substances used to increase an // Accuracy and availability may vary. 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. With the surge of the omicron variant across the country, many local officials are considering new restrictions to try to limit the spread. That same day, the state will remove all capacity limits in public indoor venues. endobj Immunizations. A Medical exemption is to be provided by the parent/student and must be a written statement from a Maine licensed physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant that, in the licensed physician's, nurse practitioner's or physician assistant's professional judgment, immunization against one or more of the diseases may be . She's the founder of Expedite, a weekly restaurant technology newsletter highlighting news and big ideas about the future of the restaurant industry. FEINBERG: Now MacDougal and other Portland restaurant owners are petitioning the city to require proof of vaccination for certain indoor public spaces, including eateries. 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. If a guest isn't vaccinated or can't be vaccinated, including kids under 12, they're offered a seat on the patio. "It's pretty easy to brush it aside. Vaccination is the most effectiveway to protect you and your family from COVID-19. A mandate keeps staff and diners safe, he said, and hopefully helps keep COVID in check. Maine will also eliminate physical distancing requirements indoors, other than in settings in which people are. 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 . 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. Of course, restaurants face negative reactions online every day when it comes to COVID safety protocols. Alex Wight, owner of Crown Jewel, said his restaurant will also be using an honor system for now. With Nina Feldman. Asked its view on a Portland restaurant vaccine requirement, HospitalityMaine, an industry group representing 1,000 members from Maine's hotel and restaurant sectors, declined to comment to NECN and NBC10 Boston on Thursday. Everyone has a picture of their vaccine card on them and-or the vaccine card on their person, and everyone feels more comfortable and much more able to relax and much more at ease knowing that everyone else inside is vaccinated. Nous, Yahoo, faisons partie de la famille de marques Yahoo. "Welcome to the people's building," Wu said at one point in response to the boos. GREG DUGAL: We have been primarily opposed to mandates. "I've been called a Nazi a lot in the past couple days. Several restaurants in Portland are calling on local officials to institute a vaccine mandate. And so we decided to make this move.". When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. And in my mind, that means making sure people know that they're protected," he said. Hi, to comment on stories you must create a commenting profile. FEINBERG: The petition comes as the Portland City Council is set to consider new COVID-19 restrictions on Monday night. COVID-19 Prevention Latest vaccine updates As vaccines become available, find the latest updates here. 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. There were still those who chose to use direct messaging to voice their opinions, however, Wright said in an email. Last updated: May 24, 2021. 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. Until there is, Stowaway's Osito is joining a growing list of restaurants across the country that require proof of vaccination from diners without the protection of a city or state mandate. [CDATA[ 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. The U.S. CDCs COVID-19 Community Levels by County map can be viewed here.
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