Philadelphia announced today that proof of a COVID-19 vaccine will soon be required to eat inside a restaurant or food establishment throughout the city. 

This requirement will begin on January 3, 2022. Philadelphia Health Commissioner Dr. Cheryl Bettigole said the following in a statement today: 

“Any place that sells food or drink to be consumed on-site will have to require that everyone who enters be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.”

The first two weeks, establishments will have the option to accept a negative test from customers within the last 24 hours instead of a vaccine card. The mandate will not apply to schools, daycares, hospitals, grocery stores, convenience stores, and soup kitchens. Basically, it won’t apply to any place that has a vulnerable population. 

It will be required to have proof of vaccination at Flyers and Sixers games starting January 3, 2022. 

If you were hoping a new year would finally move us forward and further away from COVID-19 and mandates, unfortunately, we’re just not quite there yet. It does seem weird that this type of mandate would happen now. Sixers and Flyers games have been at full capacity since the end of last season.

Is there any data to suggest that COVID cases have increased at large events? Has Philadelphia related COVID cases back to Sixers and Flyers games? Honestly, it doesn’t seem to make sense to me. COVID has been running wild for two years now. Why are all of these requirements coming now? Of course, no one has answers to those questions. Oh well.

Happy Monday. 

Mandatory Credit: Philadelphia Business Journal