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As the delta variant increases, conversations swirl in San Francisco between businesses and at City Hall about whether authorities can – or should – force people to show vaccine cards at businesses like bars, restaurants and retailers.
It’s a massive question that could lead to a number of legal and logistical hurdles for the city. But, with the recent surge in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, the Mayor of London Breed and two major business groups in the city have said they are exploring how they can prevent another shutdown.
Conversations are moving quickly: The San Francisco Bar Alliance, which represents 500 bars across the city, announced Tuesday that it plans to require customers to show proof of vaccination upon entry. The city’s Chamber of Commerce, which represents more than 1,000 local businesses, also told The Chronicle that it is informally reaching out to its members to ask them what they think of such a mandate.
“It’s a ribbon unrolling here,” said Rodney Fong, CEO of the Chamber of Commerce. “There are legal questions and legal definitions that everyone wants to be sure of. But I’m pretty sure that, universally, everyone is concerned about public health. “
When asked whether city officials would consider requiring or recommending that businesses require customers to show proof of vaccination on Wednesday, Breed’s office did not rule him out. His office said he had no immediate plans, but was exploring “all options” to get more people vaccinated.
As a backdrop to these conversations, there is an increase in COVID-19 cases in San Francisco, largely due to the delta variant. The city’s COVID-19 positivity rate over a seven-day average is currently 3.5%, significantly higher than the 0.48% it was in June when California reopened. Meanwhile, hospitalizations are increasing, almost entirely among the unvaccinated.
With 76% of the eligible population fully vaccinated, San Francisco has one of the highest rates in the country. But city leaders are still struggling to vaccinate the remaining 24%.
“We are currently monitoring the situation with the Delta variant,” said Jeff Cretan, spokesperson for the mayor. “This obviously raises growing concerns. “
No other major city in the country has required companies to require proof of vaccination for customers. In France, a mandate to provide proof of vaccination or a recent negative COVID-19 test has led nearly a million people to register for vaccination.
San Francisco already plans to require all 35,000 city employees – from police and firefighters to city hall workers – to be vaccinated once the shots receive full approval from the Food and Drug Administration. City workers who refuse to be vaccinated and do not get medical or religious exemptions could be fired.
It would be up to the Ministry of Public Health to decide whether to impose such a recommendation or such a rule on private companies. On Wednesday, the department said it was not yet considering such a move, but was ready to adjust its approach based on emerging data.
The health department also said companies already have every right to enforce stricter rules on customers, including requiring proof of vaccination.
Some bars in San Francisco already have policies in place requiring guests to show proof of vaccination prior to entry, including the Vesuvio Cafe and the Latin American Club.
Restaurants, however, have been slower to act, citing logistical difficulties. Laurie Thomas, executive director of the Golden Gate Restaurant Association, which represents hundreds of restaurants in San Francisco, said that “restaurant staff are not trained to check, our spaces are often porous with many entrances.”
It may be easier for bars to check someone’s immunization status, as they already check customer IDs before entry, she said. She also cited problems with California’s digital registration system for vaccines.
Many restaurateurs across the country have already struggled to navigate the changing COVID-19 rules during the pandemic, especially around masks and social distancing. Requiring proof of vaccination could increase the burden.
Regardless, Thomas said the restaurant association will support any establishment that decides to require proof of vaccination to enter and said he will follow the lead of the city and the health department.
To mitigate the risk of the Delta variant, most Bay Area counties have recommended – but not yet required – indoor masking for those vaccinated.
On Monday, Breed said she would support any company that decides to impose a vaccination mandate.
“I want to be very, very clear,” Breed said at a press conference. “There are a lot of people who still need to be vaccinated. And I don’t want everyone who has done their duty to be vaccinated to have to suffer. “
Chronicle editor Janelle Bitker contributed reporting for this story
Tanay Warerkar is the associate food and wine editor of the San Francisco Chronicle. Trisha Thadani is a writer for the San Francisco Chronicle. Email: [email protected], [email protected]. Twitter: @TanayWarerkar, @TrishaThadani
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