They says the mandate would protect front-line workers amid a surge in COVID-19 cases. People like Jaina Neri, a manger at Portland's Arabica Coffee Shop, agree. If a guest isn't vaccinated or can't be vaccinated, including kids under 12, they're offered a seat on the patio. Vaccinations - including primary series and booster shots - are being administered across the state in a variety of locations from pharmacies, to healthcare provider offices, to community clinics and more. The majority of them only apply to state and local governments, meaning private businesses can mandate vaccination for customers. Vilkhu said he's not afraid of losing business over the decision. These people were never our guests. Going forward, the planned vaccine schedule is as follows: March 3, 2021: All residents age 60 and older. Frequently Asked Questions About COVID-19 and Visiting Portland If I visit Portland from out of state, do I need to self-quarantine? 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. Visit our COVID-19 FAQ for more! 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. Original music by Dan Powell and . For NPR News, I'm Robbie Feinberg in Portland, Maine. Learn more. Social media commenters, on Facebook, especially, haven't held back their wrath. Home | Covid-19 - Maine 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. The third dose can be administered at . Bangor Daily News called . The caf has had its own requirement that patrons be fully vaccinated and, according to Neri, initial feedback after one week is positive. "Many have already implemented proof of vaccination independently. Restaurant owners in Maine aim to protect servers and other front-line "Today we stand with Mayor Wu moving into this next chapter," she said. AUGUSTA, Maine Maine will be one of the first states to require COVID-19 vaccines for health care workers after Gov. Primary series and updated booster vaccinations are available at locations across the state. If the page does not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the page. 2 0 obj Mon, June 10th 2019, 2:47 AM PDT. People dine at a restaurant at Hudson Yards AFP via Getty Images Instead, when the restaurant opens in October, it'll require guests to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. With the surge of the omicron variant across the country, many local officials are considering new restrictions to try to limit the spread. Hi, to comment on stories you must create a commenting profile. Nancy Caswell, owner of Oak and Rowan in Boston and executive director of Massachusetts Restaurants United, called the last 22 months the most challenging ever for restaurant owners. 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. A Running List of Portland Restaurants and Bars Checking Proof of We're ready to take this step forward to protect our residents.". Kristen Hawley writes about the restaurant business from San Francisco. Details are still emerging on how employers and schools will implement vaccine requirements as a condition of work or to attend classes. Portland Restaurants Petition for COVID Vaccine Requirement at City Eateries Some restaurants in Portland, Maine, have signed onto a petition urging the city council to require patrons to be. Peter's Bar & Grill Proof of vaccination required to sit inside; unvaccinated customers free to sit outdoors. To find a booster dose, find a vaccination site. Use our website to find accommodations in Greater Portland and throughout the state of Maine. Are Portland restaurants open for sit-down dining? 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 . To find a location near you, check the vaccination sites webpage. New York state has launched a phone app, the Excelsior Pass, which contains uploaded information from a vaccination card, to make it easy for people to show their vaccination status to whoever needs to see it. 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. "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. Boston requiring proof of COVID vaccine for restaurants, indoors - WCSH Were a bar. As of May 24th, all State of Maine COVID-19 checklists have been retired. 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. Tests are free of charge and results are generally available in as little as one hour. These resources are available to assist and inform you about Maines COVID-19 vaccination efforts, and will be updated regularly. As of last week,. by Caitlin Andrews August 12, 2021. FILE - Maine Gov. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Sign in or Subscribe There were still those who chose to use direct messaging to voice their opinions, however, Wright said in an email. 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. Unvaccinated customers can still dine on the patio. "Welcome to the people's building," Wu said at one point in response to the boos. Lawmakers hear testimony on bills to lift COVID vaccine mandates 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. %PDF-1.7 There have been threatening messages directed at him and restaurant staff online, over the phone and even in person, he said. Asked if that move was validating to him, Malin replied that he is not looking for validation in this, Im just looking to avoid another COVID shutdown for our restaurant, and that believed his move was in the best interest of community health. Beginning Feb. 15, everyone will have to show proof of two doses. The city'sfirst cases of the highly contagious omicron variant were detected last week. State Vaccination Requirements | CDC Please subscribe or login first for digital access. endobj A new, multi-month plan reflects the stabilization of Maines COVID-19 metrics and progress in vaccinations, aims to provide clarity and predictability for Maine people and businesses to plan for the summer months and establish Maine as a safe place to visit. 1 0 obj Nous, Yahoo, faisons partie de la famille de marques Yahoo. Among restaurants in Maine, the Hunt & Alpine Club is still one of the few taking the plunge to require vaccination for indoor dining. 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. The Portland Hunt & Alpine Club is one week into enforcing its new vaccine requirement for indoor dining and co-owner Briana Volk says that asking customers to produce a vaccination card has gone well. There are also some definite opponents of the vaccine requirement, including the owner of Gritty McDuff's Brew Pub in Portland, who told NBC affiliate News Center Maine that "the city of Portland should respect each business' right to implement their own vaccine mandate.'". "We would probably have to close down the books, because you can't survive on that," he said. COVID19 Prevention Checklist Industry Guidance. Major employers like Google, Tyson Foods, Walmart and others are joining health care systems in requiring vaccination as a condition of employment. This profile is in addition to your subscription and website login. Childrenage 5 years can only get a Pfizer-BioNTech booster. K. Immunization means a vaccine, antitoxin, or other substances used to increase an I deliberately turned comments off on our Instagram to prevent any unpleasant commentary. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Learn more. 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. "It's pretty easy to brush it aside. COVID-19 treatment is available for people who are at risk for severe disease. Ian Malin, the owner of Little Giant, said a recent spike in nationwide COVID-19 cases from the delta variant prompted him to return to requiring masks at his restaurant and requiring vaccines for everyone both indoors and out, unless a person is ineligible for the vaccine, in which case they can eat outside. Immunizations. Restaurants | Department of Economic and Community Development - Maine I have young kids that are not eligible. Maine CDC recommends everyone stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccination, including all primary series doses and boosters for their age group: For more information, see this FAQ. The Maine CDC encourages Maine people, municipalities, schools, businesses, and other entities to consider the new guidance as one piece of information in a holistic approach to deciding whether masking is appropriate for them based on their risk factors. For more information please refer to general guidance recommendations. Maines other 14 counties currently have moderate levels of community transmission according to the U.S. CDC and are thus not subject to the first recommendation. She launched her second newsletter, Expedite, independently three years later to continue chronicling the evolving restaurant technology industry. But as conditions improved in San Francisco, Stowaway realized he didn't want to compromise his vision for Osito. On Monday, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that proof of vaccination will soon be required to dine inside at New York City restaurants. "There is nothing more American than coming together to ensure that we are taking care of each other, that each and every one of our community members is safe and healthy and has access to the future and opportunities they deserve.". "It's an experience and you just can't get that unless you're able to participate," he said. State laws establish vaccination requirements for school children. With Nina Feldman. 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. 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. //]]> COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective at preventing severe illness and can help limit the spread of the virus that causes it. Chefs and restaurateurs instituting vaccine mandates may not be particularly thrilled to have to enforce compliance in customers weary from months of restrictions. For more about vaccination in Maine, visit our vaccine website. While general customer reaction has been net positive as evidenced by a bump in reserved tables, Malin said there has also been significant backlash from the community, to the point he disabled the ability for commenters to post on parts of the restaurants Instagram page. From outside Monday's press conference at Boston City Hall, protesters could be heard chanting "U-S-A! Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Governor of the State of Maine pursuant to 22 MRS 802(2-A) and 37-B MRS 742 based upon an occurrence or imminent threat of widespread exposure to a highly infectious or toxic agent that poses an imminent threat of substantial harm to the population of the State. 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. <> Copyright 2022 NPR. Visitors from all U.S. states are welcome to visit Maine without restrictions or testing. "So we stand here proud to support Mayor Wu and her team's leadership as we trust in the science, we believe in the experts and we move forward to do what it takes to slow the spread of COVID-19.". "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. COVID-19 Prevention Latest vaccine updates As vaccines become available, find the latest updates here. Maine to Lift More COVID Restrictions on May 24 - NECN People ages 5 years and older should get all primary series doses, and the booster dose recommended for them by U.S. CDC, if eligible. What You Need to Know About Restaurant Vaccine Requirements - Food & Wine New Maine law tightening vaccination rules has an exception for - WGME Some require appointments but many are operating as walk-in sites. They should receive their second dose at least 21 days and up to eight weeks after the first dose. State or local digital health passes that confirm vaccine status, an official CDC vaccine card, and a photo of an official CDC card are commonly accepted forms of proof. Portland Restaurants Petition for COVID Vaccine Requirement at - NECN 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." Enter your email and password to access comments. Edited by Liz O. Baylen and Mike Benoist. Our HR department has a verification system, and we already have set up the record-keeping infrastructure for this, Porter said. 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. RAPID TESTING SITES Tests offered at these sites are antigen tests, which are most accurate within the first 7 days of symptom onset. Maine will be one of the 1st states to mandate COVID-19 vaccines for All rights reserved. All three people were unvaccinated young adults, and all had mild symptoms, the Boston Public Health Commission said. ROBBIE FEINBERG, BYLINE: In November of 2019, Isaac MacDougal opened his cocktail bar Cocktail Mary. Wu said the new requirements will not affect outdoor dining or outdoor events like First Night Boston. Already registered? Her work has appeared in Food & Wine, Insider, Eater, the San Francisco Chronicle, and more. Maine Public Radio's Robbie Feinberg has more. Maine allows more time for required vaccinations as new COVID-19 cases nearly double Enforcement will begin Oct. 29 rather than Oct. 1, to give health care workers more time to get fully. 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. "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.". "This is meant to keep each and every one of our city workers safe," she said. According to the U.S. CDC, York and Piscataquis counties have substantial levels of community transmission at this time, which means that individuals should wear face coverings in indoor public settings, regardless of vaccination status. Evan Sung for The New York Times. Those that dont would be violating the student code of conduct.. Just a few months later, the pandemic upended those plans. The U.S. CDCs COVID-19 Community Levels by County map can be viewed here. Maine: State-by-State COVID-19 Guidance | Husch Blackwell We have an expectation that people will provide accurate information, Demeritt said. Of course, restaurants face negative reactions online every day when it comes to COVID safety protocols. Food and Drug Administration approval for schoolchildren is expected sometime this fall or winter. Janet Mills signed a bill in May tightening vaccination rules for those attending school in Maine, but the stricter requirements don't . That same day, the state will remove all capacity limits in public indoor venues. Create one. Greg Dugal with the trade group HospitalityMaine says he's still waiting for more details on the plan before weighing in. FEINBERG: The petition comes as the Portland City Council is set to consider new COVID-19 restrictions on Monday night. 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.