No shot, no service.
Two North Side restaurants will require proof of vaccination for diners beginning on Wednesday.
Lola Bistro and Leo. a public house — both owned and operated by Michael Barnhouse, who also serves as the chef, and his wife Yelena — announced new vaccination requirement in a Facebook post on Monday.
The restaurants will require proof of full vaccination and identification for all customers.
“This is just a protection for our community,” Yelena Barnhouse said Tuesday. “It’s very politicized, but it’s not about politics. It’s a public health issue.”
She said she’s hopeful that other Pittsburgh restaurants will follow suit and implement similar policies.
“It’s got to start somewhere. Why not me?” she said.
But the vaccine requirement hasn’t gone over well with some customers, Barnhouse said. On Tuesday, she got a threatening phone call in which someone called her a Nazi. She acknowledged that their vaccine mandate might drive some customers away. The Facebook post also elicited angry comments. One person pledged to patronize the restaurant with a fake vaccination card.
“You don’t have to support me,” she said in response to those who are unvaccinated and opposing their decision. “I don’t even want you because you’re going to jeopardize my customers.”
Children who cannot be vaccinated are still welcome at the restaurant, she said. Customers will have to show their vaccination card — or a digital photo of it — to enter either of their restaurants.
Their announcement comes as most local counties — including Allegheny County — have recently experienced “substantial” covid-19 transmission, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
According to recently updated masking guidelines, the CDC recommends that everyone — including those who have been vaccinated against the coronavirus — wear masks indoors in counties where transmission is substantial or high.
Covid-19 precautions seem to be heightening once again as Pennsylvania experiences a surge in cases, with new case counts surpassing 1,000 per day for the first time since May.
In response to the increasing covid-19 numbers, Giant Eagle on Monday announced that employees will again be required to wear masks or face shields beginning Wednesday. Giant Eagle “strongly” suggests all customers wear masks in their stores, regardless of vaccination status, effective Friday.
New York City officials on Tuesday said they will soon require proof of covid-19 vaccinations for indoor activities, including indoor dining, gyms and indoor entertainment venues. This makes New York City the first big city in the country to impose such a vaccine requirement.
Julia Felton is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Julia at 724-226-7724, jfelton@triblive.com or via Twitter .