“To protect our staff, customers, community, and country, we are requiring either proof of vaccination or a negative Covid test within the last 48 hours for entry,” reads a post on the Abbey Food & Bar’s Facebook and Instagram pages. “Since the pandemic began, our staff has been repeatedly screamed at, spit on, slapped and punched by angry customers for enforcing safety protocols. If you have a problem with our policy, please just go somewhere else, like to the nearest vaccination site. #ɢᴇᴛᴠᴀᴄᴄɪɴᴀᴛᴇᴅ.”
The same goes for The Chapel connected to The Abbey, which has posted the same message on its social media platforms.
While certain events at Revolver, Beaches and Micky’s are asking people to bring, proof of vaccination, The Abbey is the first actual LGBT restaurant and bar in the Boystown / LGBT Rainbow district to adopt this policy that is already being enforced in places like Akbar in Silver Lake and other gay bars in Downtown Los Angeles.
The ongoing and growing violence from both sides of the vaccination debate at the Harlowe restaurant this week, as a result of a similar policy, has not deterred The Abbey from demanding proof of vaccination. This could land similar demonstrations at their gates.
Anti-maskers and anti-vaxxers are planning another demonstrating at Harlowe this evening. With most people off on Saturday, this particular protest promises to be bigger than the one’s they’ve been staging earlier this week and could possibly be more violent. That could change with The Abbey as a possible new target.
Local Public Health Officials are reminding community members that it is important to get tested for COVID-19 infection for people who develop symptoms, even if fully vaccinated. Testing is also recommended for unvaccinated people who have been in close contact with someone who has a confirmed COVID-19 infection or who has had a potential exposure. COVID-19 testing remains widely available across the county. Residents should first call their healthcare provider for a COVID-19 test. For people who cannot get a test through a healthcare provider, free testing is available; please visit https://covid19.lacounty.gov/testing.
Los Angeles County coordinates a COVID-19 West Hollywood testing site at Plummer Park, located at 7377 Santa Monica Boulevard. The testing site is open each week from Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and is adjacent to the Community Center in the South Parking Lot. Tests are being administered by Fulgent Genetics. Although walk-ins are welcome, it is strongly encouraged that those interested in getting a test pre-register for an appointment at la.fulgentgenetics.com. People getting tests should bring ID and confirmation number to the appointment.
Health officials urge all people to get vaccinated. Residents ages 12 and older with internet access are urged to use www.VaccinateLACounty.com to sign up for a vaccination appointment. For people without access to a computer or the Internet, or people with disabilities, an LA County call center is open daily from 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. to help schedule appointments at (833) 540-0473.
Additional information, such as links to West Hollywood-area drug store chains offering vaccinations, is available on the City of West Hollywood’s website at www.weho.org/coronavirus in the Vaccines and Testing Information section.
Individuals are considered fully vaccinated two weeks or more after they have received the second dose of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or two weeks or more after they have received the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
Congrats to the abbey, harlowe’s, the revolver and Formosa Cafe for requiring proof of vax! Hero’s in the fight to protect workers, patrons, and visitors from becoming covid positive. Can’t wait for all businesses to do the same!
Disgusting