Dozens of Seattle bars/restaurants require vaccination proof

SEATTLE (AP) – At least 60 bars and restaurants in Seattle, starting Friday, required customers to prove they had been vaccinated to eat or dine indoors as the highly contagious COVID-19 Delta variant spreads in Washington state.

The self-imposed mandate includes Capitol Hill bars The Unicorn, Linda’s Tavern, Rumba, and Canon, and comes as the state sees a fifth wave of infections, the Seattle Times reported.

At least a dozen bars were temporarily closed last week after their employees tested positive for COVID-19 or came into contact with an infected person. This resulted in bar owners posting on social media that proof of vaccination is required to dine or drink on their premises.

“No shirt, no shoes, no vaccine, no entry,” said Linda Derschang, who owns Linda’s Tavern and Oddfellows Cafe + Bar on Capitol Hill and King’s Hardware in Ballard. “This is about the protection of our employees and the protection of our guests.”

The bar industry cannot afford to close again because of the pandemic and everyone has to do their part, she said.

Since the establishments have their own rules regarding proof of vaccination, the self-imposed restrictions vary.

With the Delta variant hanging around, it’s likely that the list of bars and restaurants in the Seattle area that require proof of vaccination will keep growing. You can find a list here.