Vaccination Proof Requirements On The North Shore: Patch Sunday

SALEM, MA —As Salem moves toward its coronavirus vaccination proof requirement for entry to bars, restaurants, gyms and other entertainment venues in the next couple of weeks, some Beverly businesses are adding shot requirements to enter as well.

But what has become increasingly unclear in recent weeks is which other North Shore cities and towns, if any, will follow the lead of Boston and Salem on vaccine orders.

While many cities and towns in the area reinstated indoor mask mandates over the past two weeks, only Beverly was set to consider a vaccination order — which was immediately pulled from the agenda of what turned into an aborted Board of Health meeting to discuss a renewed mask mandate in that city.

As the omicron surge continues —and most mask, vaccine and other mitigation efforts being left to local jurisdiction — there is a question of whether the aggressive measures in Salem become an outlier or the North Shore norm.

Here are some stories on that, and anything else you might have missed this past holiday week, in Patch Sunday:

Beverly Brewery To Require Shots To Drink Pints In Taproom

One Beverly brewery is requiring customers to get their shots before they can drink their pints in the taproom.

Paul and Christen Gentile, who own Gentile Brewing Company, informed staff and mug club members this week that as of Thursday all visitors were required to show proof of coronavirus vaccination to drink beer in the taproom.

Notch Brewing of Salem owners said last week that vaccinations would be required to drink at its taprooms in Salem and Brighton as well.

Kevin Grant, who co-owns The Castle: A Board Game Cafe in Beverly, also decided in the past week to require vaccination proof for entry.

Marblehead Reaffirms Mask Order In Meeting With Public Comment

The Marblehead Board of Health reaffirmed its reinstated mask order for indoor public spaces Wednesday following 30 minutes of public comment that was a far more organized and courteous exchange of viewpoints than what occurred in an unruly meeting two days earlier.

A Second Year On The North Shore In The Time Of Coronavirus

It was a year when things were supposed to get back to the way they were on the North Shore.

In many ways, they did. In some other ways, the challenges in dealing with the coronavirus seem as daunting as ever nearly two full years into the pandemic.

Beverly Health Board Pulls Vaccine Order, Abandons Mask Meeting

A proposed coronavirus vaccination order to enter Beverly businesses was pulled from the agenda and the Beverly Board of Health subsequently abandoned a special meeting to discuss reimposing an indoor mask mandate after the virtual meeting was overrun by vocal opponents of further
restrictions Tuesday afternoon.

Salem Coronavirus Surge Leaves City Offices Short-Staffed

Salem residents are asked to minimize in-person visits to municipal offices and conduct as much business online as possible while in-person staff is reduced amid a coronavirus surge.

Danvers Schools To Go With Co-Superintendents For Next 6 Weeks

Danvers Public Schools Assistant Superintendents Keith Taverna and Mary Wermers will serve as co-superintendents for at least six weeks while Lisa Dana is out on medical leave, the School Committee unanimously voted in a special meeting Thursday night.

Salem Sends Inauguration Online Amid Coronavirus Surge

Salem will hold its inauguration for citywide officeholders virtually on Monday amid a surge in coronavirus cases.

Salem Hospital Limits Visitations Amid Coronavirus Spike

Salem Hospital is once again restricting visitations amid a surge in coronavirus cases.

The hospital said that as of Wednesday hospitalized patients are allowed only one visitor at a time and two visitors per day.

Man Killed In Swampscott Overnight Crash On Paradise Road

An overnight crash on Paradise Road killed one person and left another seriously injured on Wednesday.

Salem Fire Sends Dozens Out Into Cold December Night

A Salem apartment fire sent heavy smoke into the air, closed down Boston Street and left dozens of residents displaced Tuesday night.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)