Restaurant Group Says Most Members Won’t Require Proof of Vaccination for Customers | Colorado

(The Center Square) – Colorado’s largest restaurant group says most of its members don’t plan to impose mask or vaccine requirements on customers.

The announcement comes after Denver restaurateur Frank Bonanno noted that it will require all employees and customers to present proof of vaccination at its nine local restaurants, The Denver Business Journal reported.

“As we’ve been saying for about a week, until public health units or local authorities prescribe masks or vaccines, we expect Colorado restaurants to make their own informed decisions in the best interest. of their employees and guests. ” Colorado Restaurant Association (CRA) president and CEO Sonia Riggs said in a statement.

“Safety is and always has been the top priority of the restaurant industry, and we know that restaurants will continue to operate to the highest safety standards,” she added.

According to a survey of CRA members conducted between August 6 and 9, more than 77% of restaurants reported having no vaccination mask or warrant for their clients.

Half of all the restaurants surveyed said they also did not have current requirements for their employees to be vaccinated.

17% of restaurants said they would require unvaccinated customers to wear masks.

The survey also found that only two of the 148 restaurants that took part in the survey said they would require customers to show proof of vaccination before allowing them to dine inside.

On Monday evening, the city of Boulder suggested that residents over two years old wear masks indoors. This includes restaurants, daycares and schools. However, the public health order is not compulsory.

“Should public officials or Colorado health departments institute mask or vaccine warrants, we hope they will communicate clearly with the restaurant industry to prepare restaurants for success and carefully consider how those warrants affect operations.” restaurants, ”Riggs said.

“Handing over the responsibility of checking clients’ immunization status would put catering teams back to where they were last year, when workers sometimes experienced terrifying reactions to enforcing masking rules,” he said. she continued.