As COVID cases surge, these Sacramento bars are requiring proof of vaccination for entry

No shot, no shots.

That’s the new edict from a growing number of Sacramento concert venues, which bars, concert venues and restaurants. If customers can’t show proof of COVID-19 vaccination, they’ll be turned away at the door.

Harlow’s, Torch Club, The Russ Room, Badlands, The Depot and Luna’s Cafe all require people show their vaccine cards before entering, according to social media posts from each venue. That’s in addition to Sacramento County’s new mask mandate, which requires face coverings be worn indoors when not actively eating or drinking.

The shift comes amid a surge in COVID-19 cases linked to the delta variant. Sacramento County reported 73 new cases on July 4; on Wednesday, there were 419 new cases. Less than 55% of Sacramento County residents are fully or partially vaccinated, according to the county’s COVID-19 dashboard.

Luna’s Cafe owner Art Luna made up his mind a while ago to require proof.

“I decided (to require vaccinations) in the spring, months before we opened, because I felt only way we were going to get open and attract customers is if everybody felt safe,” Luna said.

Government vaccination pushes have become more forceful in recent weeks. Gov. Gavin Newsom has called for all state employees and healthcare workers to get immunized, and Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg wants vaccines or frequent testing to be mandatory among city employees.

California State University, Sacramento and UC Davis students must be vaccinated before returning to campus this fall, and President Joe Biden said last week federal employees and contractors need to either be vaccinated or follow strict social distancing regulations.

Yet private employers have been reluctant to require their employees get vaccinated, concerned they’ll bolt for other companies with looser rules. The hospitality industry has particularly struggled to find employees coming out of the pandemic.

That hasn’t been enough to deter dozens of Bay Area restaurants from requiring proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test within the last 72 hours, or the 500-member San Francisco Bar Owner Alliance from officially recommending others do the same. Nor did it keep Art Luna from telling his lone unvaccinated Luna’s Cafe employee to get a jab.

The employee did so without protest, Luna said, and isn’t working until fully vaccinated. Luna’s Cafe has required all customers show their vaccine card or a picture of said card with a matching state ID since reopening on July 15.

Guests and performers have appreciated the extra safety measure, Luna said, aside from one poet who caused a stink.

“It’s been just overwhelmingly positive. I mean really, I just cant believe how much people are ready to come back and how they’re so appreciative that (businesses) are requiring proof of vaccination,” Luna said.

Meanwhile, restaurants and bars including Coin-Op Game Room (downtown Sacramento), The Burger Saloon (Woodland) and The Hangar (South Lake Tahoe) have shut down within the last week after COVID-19 outbreaks among staff.

COVID-19 vaccination significantly reduces the risk of hospitalization or death from the disease and helps curb transmission to others. Vaccinated people can still contract COVID-19, and the delta variant is far more contagious than the novel coronavirus.

New York City announced Tuesday that proof of vaccination will be required for indoor dining, gyms and arts performances, mirroring France and Italy’s nationwide mandates.

For information about COVID-19 vaccines, including local vaccine clinics, fact-checking analysis and CDC recommendations for fully vaccinated people, visit https://www.saccounty.net/COVID-19/Pages/CoronavirusVaccine.aspx.