If you plan to visit San Francisco this year, you’re going to need proof of vaccination to enjoy the many activities and places where visitors go. It’s now joining New York City in mandating proof of vaccination as a condition of entry to indoor venues such as restaurants, bars, gyms and entertainment venues, with the rules coming into effect on August 20.
San Francisco’s mayor London Breed outlined the plan on Thursday. Unlike in New York City where patrons need to present proof of just one vaccine jab, San Francisco will require that people are fully vaccinated. The mandate will apply to anyone attending concerts, sports games and events with more than 1000 attendees; or those visiting cafes, bars, gyms and other fitness centers. The rules do not apply to anyone under the age of 12, or those who are ineligible for vaccinations.
Read more: New York to require proof of vaccination for indoor settings – here’s how that will work
People can present their ‘white logo’ CDC card to enter indoor venues ©Lucky-photographer/Shutterstock
“Vaccines are our way out of this pandemic. They’re how we can live our lives together, safely,” Ms Breed said on Twitter. “A number of businesses, large and small, have already led by requiring proof of vaccination before this. This new health order is about protecting the health of employees, residents, and visitors, and keeping our businesses open.”
The rules will come into effect on August 20, but businesses will have until October to ensure their staff are vaccinated. Locals and tourists visiting the city can present their white logo Centers for Disease Control and Prevention paper vaccination cards to enter venues. Residents have a second option as California has also created an online system for people to upload their vaccination status – with a barcode that can be scanned at entry points. International visitors to San Francisco who were vaccinated outside of the US can show a paper or digital copy of their official vaccine record.
Read more: The best time to visit San Francisco
Ms Breed said that 78% of the eligible population already is fully vaccinated, and the goal now is to get as many people vaccinated as possible and keep the virus out of places where it can easily spread.
“We are issuing these new health requirements because indoor, public settings where people congregate in close quarters, often with their masks off, are a main way that the virus spreads,” said Acting Health Officer, Dr. Naveena Bobba in a statement. “With the increased COVID-19 case rates, we need everybody who is eligible for a vaccine to get one now.”
You might also like:
How to get around in San Francisco
San Francisco’s best neighborhoods
Top 5 day trips from San Francisco
The post San Francisco is the latest US city to require proof of vaccination for indoor venues
appeared first on Lonely Planet Travel News.
