A sign on Hwy. 26 outside of Portland encourages people to get their COVID-19 vaccination, June 28, 2021.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
So far, New York is the only city to create an official policy requiring proof of vaccination for indoor activities like dining and working out at a gym. In San Francisco and Seattle, more and more businesses are implementing these policies, finding strength in numbers as they face backlash from people who are choosing not to get vaccinated for political reasons. In the absence of government mandates, some Oregon businesses are creating vaccine requirements of their own.
We hear from Tate Metcalf, owner of the Sisters Athletic Club, where proof of vaccination is required for people who want to work out without a mask, and Michael Shea. He’s the owner and bartender at Rum Club, which is part of a loose coalition of Portland businesses that have decided to ask customers to prove they’ve been vaccinated in order to eat and drink indoors.
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