For past variants of COVID, vaccines and face masks greatly helped mitigate the spread of COVID. However the latest variant, Omicron, is highly contagious even if you’re fully vaccinated and boostered (it’s said to be the second most contagious virus on earth, beaten only by measles). So the greater concern now is not to infect those who are unvaccinated, in an attempt to keep them out of hospitals. To both of those efforts, several cities in the U.S. have updated their rules for dining indoors at restaurants (you can’t eat and drink with a face mask on, which means more risk of transmission).
To date, these are the cities with COVID-related restrictions for dining inside a restaurant:
Proof of Vaccine ONLY
- Berkeley, CA
— Effective September 3, 2021, guests age 12 and over must show proof of being fully vaccinated to be able to dine inside a restaurant. - Boston, MA
— Effective January 15, guests age 12 and older must show proof of having received at least one dose of a COVID vaccine to be able to dine inside a restaurant.
— Effective February 15, guests age 12 and over must show proof of being fully vaccinated to be able to dine inside a restaurant.
— Effective March 1, guests age 5 to 11 must show proof of having received at least one dose of a COVID vaccine to be able to dine inside a restaurant.
— Effective May 1, guests age 5 and over must show proof of being fully vaccinated to be able to dine inside a restaurant. - Chicago, IL
— Effective January 3, guests age 5 and older must show proof of being fully vaccinated to be able to dine inside a restaurant.
(Note: Some restaurants in Chicago also require a booster shot if the guest is eligible for one)
(Note: Other counties in Illinois are, or will soon also require vaccines) - Los Angeles, CA
— Effective November 2021, guests age 12 and over must show proof of being fully vaccinated to be able to dine inside a restaurant. - Newark, NJ
— Effective January 10, guests must show proof of having received at least one dose of a COVID vaccine to be able to dine inside a restaurant.
— Effective January 31, guests must show proof of being fully vaccinated to be able to dine inside a restaurant. - New York City, NY
— Effective August 1, 2021, guests age 12 and over must show proof of being fully vaccinated to be able to dine inside a restaurant.
— Guests age 5 to 11 must show proof of having received at least one dose of a COVID vaccine to be able to dine inside a restaurant at this time.
— Effective January 29, guests age 5 and over must show proof of being fully vaccinated to be able to dine inside a restaurant.
(Note: Some restaurants in NYC also require a booster shot if the guest is eligible for one) - Oakland, CA
— Effective February 1, guests age 12 and over must show proof of being fully vaccinated (or verification of a medical exemption and a recent negative COVID test) to be able to dine inside a restaurant. - Philadelphia, PA
— Effective January 3, guests age 12 and older must show proof of being fully vaccinated to be able to dine inside a restaurant.
— Effective January 3, guests age 5 years and 3 months through 11 must show proof of having received at least one dose of a COVID vaccine to be able to dine inside a restaurant.
— Effective February 3, all guests age 5 and over must show proof of being fully vaccinated to be able to dine inside a restaurant. - San Francisco, CA
— Effective August 20, 2021, guests age 12 and over must show proof of being fully vaccinated to be able to dine inside a restaurant.
— Effective February 1, guests age 18 and over must show proof of being fully vaccinated (INCLUDING BOOSTER SHOT) to be able to dine inside a restaurant.
— Effective March 1, guests age 12 and over must show proof of being fully vaccinated (INCLUDING BOOSTER SHOT) to be able to dine inside a restaurant.
— Guests under age 12 may provide either proof of full vaccination or proof of a negative COVID-19 test to dine inside a restaurant.
(Note: Some restaurants in San Francisco also require a booster shot if the guest is eligible for one) - Washington D.C.
— Effective January 15, guests age 12 and older must show proof of having received at least one dose of a COVID vaccine to be able to dine inside a restaurant.
— Effective February 15, guests age 12 and older must show proof of being fully vaccinated to be able to dine inside a restaurant.
(Note: Some restaurants in Washington D.C. also require a booster shot if the guest is eligible for one)
Proof of Vaccine OR Negative COVID Test
- Minneapolis and St. Paul, MN
— Effective January 19, patrons will have to show proof of vaccination or a negative result from a Covid-19 test when visiting restaurants. Children younger than 2 are exempt. - Maui, HI
— Effective January 8, guests age 12 and over must show proof of being fully vaccinated (including a booster shot) or a negative COVID-19 test within 48 hours to be able to dine inside a restaurant. - New Orleans, LA
— Effective August 2021, guests age 12 and over must show proof of being fully vaccinated or a negative COVID-19 PCR, molecular, or antigen test within 72 hours to be able to dine inside a restaurant.
— Effective February 1, guests age 5 and over must show proof of being fully vaccinated or a negative COVID-19 PCR, molecular, or antigen test no more than 72 hours old to be able to dine inside a restaurant. - Oahu, HI
— Effective September 13, 2021, guests age 12 and over must show proof of being fully vaccinated or a negative COVID-19 test within 48 hours to be able to dine inside a restaurant. - Palm Springs, CA
— Patrons indoors at restaurants and bars are required to show proof of vaccine or a negative COVID-19 test within the past 72 hours. This does not apply to outdoor dining. This order also does not apply to anyone under the age of 12.
In some cities, there are no mandates (or no mandates yet) regarding showing proof of vaccination, but some restaurants may require it anyway. Select eateries in Austin TX, Baltimore MD, Long Island NY, Madison WI, Milwaukee WI, Upstate New York, Portland OR, San Diego CA, St. Louis MO and Tacoma WA, among others, have made rules regarding guests’ COVID status before being able to dine in their respective establishments, even if their respective cities have no such mandates in place.
Feature Photo: John Beans / My Friends Coffee
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