Chicago's top doc thanks bars and restaurants for reinstating vaccination requirements
Wed. August 4, 2021 9:36 AM by GoPride.com News Staff
johnny v. pours at hydrate in june
photo credit // ken brown
Most Northalsted bars require vaccination proof for entry
Chicago Public Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady and Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Tuesday thanked bars and restaurants that have implemented their own vaccination requirements. Arwady also encouraged more businesses to do so.
Despite rising COVID-19 cases, Arwady said Chicago is not at the point of mandating vaccination proof for indoor bars, restaurants and gyms, as New York City mayor's announced will be required in that city.
Over the weekend, Hydrate Nightclub, 3458 N. Halsted, and Scarlet Bar, 3320 N. Halsted, reinstated vaccination requirements for entry.
“Our staff expressed a general concern to our GM. We polled our customers on Thursday night, and 100 percent of them had their proof of vaccine on them, so we made the policy effective the next day,” Scarlet owner Paul Cannella told GoPride.com.
A majority of the bars and restaurants along the N. Halsted St. corridor, popularly known as “Boystown,” now require proof of vaccination as the north side neighborhood prepares for Northalsted Market Days this weekend - Aug. 6 - 8.
The city confirmed Tuesday with GoPride.com that it has no intentions of telling Northalsted Business Alliance to cancel the three-day street festival due to rising COVID-19 metrics.
In Chicago, the average daily number of new cases is up to 234 per day - a 40% increase over the previous week.
But Arwady emphasized that about 99.9 percent of Chicago's vaccinated population have not tested positive for COVID-19 since they received the shot.
Northalsted Business Alliance announced that it will offer free COVID-19 testing ahead of Market Days and at the gates via Northshore Clinical Labs. There will also be a vaccination booth inside the festival.
Related: CircuitMom to require vaccination card or negative test to attend weekend events
Despite rising COVID-19 cases, Arwady said Chicago is not at the point of mandating vaccination proof for indoor bars, restaurants and gyms, as New York City mayor's announced will be required in that city.
Over the weekend, Hydrate Nightclub, 3458 N. Halsted, and Scarlet Bar, 3320 N. Halsted, reinstated vaccination requirements for entry.
“Our staff expressed a general concern to our GM. We polled our customers on Thursday night, and 100 percent of them had their proof of vaccine on them, so we made the policy effective the next day,” Scarlet owner Paul Cannella told GoPride.com.
A majority of the bars and restaurants along the N. Halsted St. corridor, popularly known as “Boystown,” now require proof of vaccination as the north side neighborhood prepares for Northalsted Market Days this weekend - Aug. 6 - 8.
The city confirmed Tuesday with GoPride.com that it has no intentions of telling Northalsted Business Alliance to cancel the three-day street festival due to rising COVID-19 metrics.
In Chicago, the average daily number of new cases is up to 234 per day - a 40% increase over the previous week.
But Arwady emphasized that about 99.9 percent of Chicago's vaccinated population have not tested positive for COVID-19 since they received the shot.
Northalsted Business Alliance announced that it will offer free COVID-19 testing ahead of Market Days and at the gates via Northshore Clinical Labs. There will also be a vaccination booth inside the festival.
Related: CircuitMom to require vaccination card or negative test to attend weekend events