PRESS RELEASE
September 2, 2021
Allison Berry, MD, MPH, Health Officer for Jefferson and Clallam counties
Indoor restaurant and bar patrons must show proof of COVID-19 vaccination
Orden de salud pública para clientes de restaurantes y bares (2 de septiembre de 2021)
JEFFERSON AND CLALLAM COUNTIES—All patrons entering an indoor restaurant or bar in Jefferson and Clallam Counties must provide proof they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, beginning Saturday, September 4, according to a public health order issued today by Doctor Allison Berry, Health Officer for Jefferson and Clallam counties.
“Indoor bars and restaurants are known to pose a high risk for COVID-19 transmission, as they encourage unmasking of large groups of people indoors,” reports Dr. Berry. “Our goal is to make these safer places to be and to reduce transmission in our communities, allowing our hospitals to keep functioning and our schools to open more safely this fall.”
Acceptable forms of proof of vaccination include a completed CDC vaccination card, a State Department of Health Certificate of COVID-19 Vaccination, a printed copy of a State Department of Health vaccine record, a photograph of any of those documents, or an app-based vaccine passport.
According to the order, a person is fully vaccinated when they have received all the required doses of a vaccine for COVID-19 and 14 days have passed since the final dose. For the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, two doses are required. Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine requires only one.
Employees of bars and restaurants who mask continuously while in the building do not need to provide proof of vaccination. Additionally, children younger than 12, who are ineligible for vaccination, may enter without showing proof.
As of last month, 495 outbreaks of COVID-19 have been traced to restaurants and bars in Washington State, including several in Jefferson and Clallam Counties, according to the most recent outbreak situation report from the Washington State Department of Health. “Given the ability of the delta variant to spread beyond 6 feet when people are unmasked indoors, we believe that a vaccine requirement will be more effective and less costly than the capacity limitations we saw last year,” Dr. Berry said. “We want to keep businesses open while protecting the public. This is how we do it.”
Vaccination remains the most powerful tool we have to reduce illness, hospitalization and death from COVID-19. In Washington State, 94% of those who have been hospitalized and 92% of those who have died due to COVID-19 were unvaccinated.
“With hospitals around our region stretched to the breaking point, we need to do everything we can to keep our communities safe” Dr. Berry said. “Getting vaccinated with this incredible vaccine, which is safe, effective, free and life-saving, is simply the right thing to do.”
Click here to read health order.
Clarifications to Public Health Order (09/03/2021)
Outdoor Dining
A restaurant or bar may serve patrons seated outdoors without requiring proof of vaccination.
Takeout and Restrooms
Restaurants and bars must require patrons who are unable to provide proof of vaccination to wear masks continually while indoors if they enter to use the bathroom or pick up a takeout order.
Exemptions
Customers exempt from vaccination for medical or religious reasons may choose to dine outdoors or order takeout, if those options are available. However, proof of medical or religious exemption from vaccination does not allow a customer to take off their mask inside a restaurant or bar.
Private Events
Private events do not need to comply with this health order UNLESS they are held at a restaurant or bar.
Private Clubs
Private clubs that are restaurants and/or bars need to comply with this health order.
Door Sign
Printed signs for businesses are hanging on the outside of our office doors next to QFC in Port Townsend for anyone who would like a copy. Or, download and print it by clicking here.
FAQs
Health Order FAQs
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