HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021_9_2 JLane_MandateFrom:John Lane
To:Kate Dean; Heidi Eisenhour; Greg Brotherton; Board of Health; rjohnson@co.clallam.wa.us;mozias@co.clallam.wa.us; bpeach@co.clallam.wa.us; shahidafatin@gmail.com; gbsjrmd@sisna.com;ncarr@cityofpa.us; dclawley@msn.com; aunthank@co.clallam.wa.us
Cc:Anthony Anton
Subject:Concerns Regarding the Implementation of Public Health Order Requiring Bars and Restaurants to CheckCustomer Vaccination Status Starting September 4, 2021
Date:Thursday, September 2, 2021 5:09:35 PM
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Dear Jefferson and Clallam County Boards of Health:
We are writing to you with serious concerns regarding the implementation of the newest health
order to require restaurants to verify that all guests who dine indoors are fully vaccinated. We
request that the policy be delayed so our concerns over employee safety can be addressed.
Our industry has been in constant conversation with the governor as well as local health officials
throughout the pandemic. We are proud to be partners in helping stop the spread of COVID. We
have supported worker vaccine access, vaccine pop-ups, mask mandates, and created public service
announcements to encourage masking to keep people safe from COVID.
We understand and agree with the commitment to keep our communities safe, however we are
extremely concerned that such an order put into place with less than 48 hours to educate, prepare,
and implement can and will have adverse impacts, including putting our employees at risk.
Below are some of the specific concerns and questions our Association has with the new public
health order mandating vaccine verification for our guests:
-The public health order was announced with no time for training or staffing, during the
largest staff shortage our industry has faced. In the best of staffing situations, 48 hours is not
enough time to educate and train staff on a completely new requirement and ensure
compliance.
- This vaccine mandate requires our employees to intercept guests before they enter our
establishments in order to determine their vaccine status. This will leave an already
stretched-thin team even more short staffed.
- It includes no public education component, meaning our employees are charged with both
educating the public and enforcing on behalf of the county. This will put them at risk of
being targeted by angry customers who are hearing about the order for the first time. Our
employees’ safety and wellbeing is crucial and rather than addressing these concerns, this
order puts them at greater risk.
-It unreasonably targets our industry without data indicating that our industry is a major
cause of the spread of COVID, while leaving out other places where people congregate. The
data referenced in the order is a workplace outbreak report, which does not include data on
restaurant guests whatsoever. Further, it does not indicate that the employees were
exposed to COVID at their place of employment, but rather that two employees had COVID
within a two-week period, regardless of where they were exposed to the virus.
We support the ability for individual businesses to make decisions on checking guest vaccine status
based on what’s best for their location and staffing. We ask that this policy be delayed for proper
preparation for enforcement and a robust public facing education campaign.
Thank you for your consideration of our concerns. Please let me know if I can help answer any
questions.
Sincerely,
John Lane
John Lane
Director of Local Government Affairs
(360) 688-3136