Dozens of restaurants in Seattle require proof of vaccination

Dozens of restaurants and bars in Seattle will require proof of vaccination for customers to enter.

There were at least 60 bars in the city on Friday that wouldn’t allow a person to enter without proof they were fully vaccinated, The Seattle Times reported.

The move comes after many bars had to close last week due to employees contracting the coronavirus.

Linda Derschang, owner of Linda’s Tavern and Oddfellows Cafe + Bar, told the Seattle Times her restaurants couldn’t afford to close again and that she wanted to keep her employees safe.

Proof of vaccination for restaurants is not required by states because establishments themselves set these rules.

“No shirt, no shoes, no vaccine, no entry,” Derschang said.

Some establishments feed unvaccinated customers outside while others require those under 16 to wear masks every time they leave their seat if they are not vaccinated, according to the local outlet.

The restrictions come as the delta variant increases cases in Washington.

Washington has 59% of its population fully vaccinated as it battles its fifth wave of coronavirus cases.

In addition to wanting proof of vaccination, other companies require their employees to be vaccinated in order to continue working.