Negative Tests Not Accepted For Philly Restaurant, Bar Entry Now

PHILADELPHIA — Full vaccination is now required for those looking to eat and drink in Philadelphia businesses.

Effective now, anyone 12 and older must show proof of two doses of the coronavirus vaccine to east and drink inside at city establishments.

Food and drink establishment employees and children 5 years and 3 months old through 11 years old are required to have completed their vaccine series by Feb. 3.

According to the city's data, at least 971,963 people (78.3 percent) in Philadelphia have been fully vaccinated, and at least 1,237,969 people (95 percent) have one dose.

Among eligible Philadelphians ages 12 and older, 72.5 percent are fully vaccinated, and 92.3 percent have received at least one dose of vaccine.

Find a vaccine provider online here.

Before Tuesday, establishments could choose to accept proof of a negative coronavirus test within 24 hours of entry for people who are not fully vaccinated for the first two weeks of the mandate.

The mandate affects these types of establishments:

• Indoor restaurant spaces.
• Cafes within larger spaces (such as museums).
• Bars.
• Sports venues that serve food or drink for on-site consumption.
• Movie theaters.
• Bowling alleys.
• Other entertainment venues that serve food or drink for on-site consumption.
• Conventions (if food is being served).
• Catering halls.
• Casinos where food and drink is allowed on the floor.
• Food court seating areas should be cordoned off and have someone checking vaccine status on entry to the seating area.

The mandate does not affect K-12 and early child care settings, hospitals, congregate care facilities, special population providers that serve food, residential or health care facilities, grocery stores, convenience stores or other establishments that primarily sell food and drink for offsite use, or in Philadelphia International Airport, except in traditional seated restaurant or seated bar-style locations.

The city is also offering exemptions to this mandate for those who cannot be vaccinated for health or religious reasons.

By completing the appropriate forms, Philadelphians who cannot be vaccinated will be able to continue to enjoy their favorite restaurants and eating and drinking establishments.

Below are links to the exemption forms.

• Indoor dining customer medical exemption form
• Indoor dining customer religious exemption form
• Indoor dining staff medical exemption form
• Indoor dining staff religious exemption form

There is no word on when the mandate will be lifted, with Philadelphia Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Cheryl Bettigole saying it will be lifted when case and hospitalization figures decrease.

The most recent data from the city shows 1,621 patients with coronavirus are being treated in Philadelphia hospitals, with a total of 126 on ventilators.

In the last two weeks, 28.8 percent of coronavirus tests in Philadelphia have come back positive. Thus far during the pandemic, 248,363 Philadelphians have been diagnosed with coronavirus, and 4,324 have succumbed to the virus. Philadelphia is averaging 3,301 new cases of coronavirus per day over the last two weeks.