SPOKANE, Wash. — Capacity for indoor dining and entertainment venues will expand when Washington state enters into Phase 3 of reopening on March 22, but many workers in those industries are still waiting for COVID-19 vaccines.
In a petition, more than 3,500 restaurant and hospitality workers in Washington state are asking Gov. Jay Inslee to include them in the next phase of vaccine distribution alongside other essential workers. The petition was organized by the Seattle Restaurant Alliance and the Washington Hospitality Association.
Iron Goat Brewing owner Greg Brandt said there is no reason restaurant workers shouldn't be included with other essential workers in the next phase to get the COVID-19 vaccine, as servers must interact with customers all day.
"Customers can take their masks off when they're sitting at the table, and my employees have to address them," Brandt said. "I think they really should be included in vaccination priority."
Beginning March 17, anyone in Tier 2 of Phase 1B in Washington state can get a coronavirus vaccine. That group includes critical workers in certain congregate settings, such as grocery stores, agriculture, schools and child care, corrections, transit and law enforcement.
The announcement came as Inslee outlined which businesses could expand capacity in Phase 3. It allows up to 50% occupancy or 400 people maximum, whichever is lower, for all indoor spaces, including restaurants, gyms and fitness centers, movie theaters and other businesses.
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"These aren't jobs that you can do from a desktop computer in your house," Brandt added about being a food server. "You absolutely have to show up, and you have to be there and you have to be in contact with other people."
Representatives for Courtyard by Marriot and DoubleTree by Hilton and various restaurants in Spokane County, including Bene's, Heritage Bar & Kitchen, Latah Bistro and 24 Taps, have signed the petition to Inslee.
"It was a little bit of a gut punch," Washington Hospitality president and CEO Anthony Anton said. "We're really advocating to say, ‘Hey, don't forget about us’ as we pick up speed on vaccinations."
Anton added that just because hospitality industry is open at 50%, it doesn't mean they don't need to be taken care of.
KREM reached out to Tara Lee, a spokesperson for Inslee's office, in response to the petition. She said the state is "sticking with the current vaccine prioritization right now, but as more vaccine arrives in the state we will look at other requests."
"I'm hoping that with efforts of reaching out to the officials that are in charge, we can see if they can make some exceptions, make some changes," Brandt said.
The Washington Hospitality Association also shared a statistic that says 40% of hospitality workers in the state are Black, Indigenous and people of color. These communities have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19 since the pandemic began.
“Restaurant and hospitality workers have been absolutely essential throughout the pandemic, yet they cannot get access to the vaccine alongside other essential workers. We have been working for months to ensure our team members can have access to the vaccine, and now we’re asking for the public’s help,” said Anthony Anton, President and CEO of the Washington Hospitality Association, in a press release.