St. Paul’s mandate for bar and restaurant patrons to show evidence of a COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test result is not as far-reaching as in Minneapolis — it applies to all bars, but only to about one-third of restaurants, the city said. Thursday.
The difference between Saint Paul and Minneapolis comes down to licensing. Restaurants in St. Paul are licensed by the Minnesota Department of Health, while restaurants in Minneapolis are licensed by the city.
St. Paul can only enforce the rules for businesses it has the right to license, Suzanne Donovan, a spokeswoman for the Department of Safety and Inspection, said on Thursday, a day after the Twin Cities mayors announced the orders, as the number Coronavirus cases have risen sharply. contagious omicrant variant.
Mayor Melvin Carter’s order in the capital is for city-licensed establishments that offer food and/or beverages for consumption on the premises.
COMPANIES INCLUDED IN ST. PAUL MANDATE
Donovan says the following places are included in St. Paul’s mandate:
- About 230 local liquor licenses are held by bars, restaurants, distilleries and breweries.
- Bowling alleys, cinemas and theaters serving food and drink because they are licensed by the city.
- Xcel Energy Center and Allianz field.
- Rental of halls and hotels that can host weddings or other private events, as long as they serve food or drinks.
An estimated two-thirds of restaurants in St. Paul, including fast food outlets and coffee shops, are not licensed to sell liquor and are not subject to the requirement for diners to show proof of vaccination or a negative test result, or to wear masks. Donovan said.
The City continues to encourage these businesses to take as many precautions as possible against COVID-19—owners are free to set the requirements themselves.
A temporary emergency order will go into effect in St. Paul next Wednesday for events without tickets and January 26 for events with tickets. It starts next Wednesday in Minneapolis.
SOME HAVE ALREADY REQUIRED VACATION CONFIRMATION
Some establishments are already requiring proof of vaccination or a negative test result, and two St. Paul businesses said they did well.
“It means a lot to us,” said WA Frost Chef and General Manager Peter Drinan. “There were a lot of people — all ages, different socioeconomic backgrounds, all political parties — who felt more comfortable walking in.”
In fact, during the holiday season, attendance at the Selby Avenue restaurant was at pre-pandemic levels, Drinan said.
The requirement at WA Frost went into effect in September, and the Black Hart of St. opened that same month. Paul on University Avenue. The bar has rules on Fridays and Saturdays after 8:00 pm, and before and after Minnesota United games, when it’s busiest.
“For every angry person who gives us trouble, there are probably 10 people who go out of their way to thank us for it,” said Wes Bourdin, owner of the bar.
For people who weren’t aware of the requirement at Black Hart, the bar had employees at the door telling them how to download the Docket app, which the state has begun providing people with digital copies of their vaccination records. “It really saved my life,” Burdin said.
Jessica Fleming contributed to this report.
