The Ohio Restaurant Association is asking the state to make restaurant workers a priority for the vaccine. News Center 7 spoke with a restaurant owner about why they feel it’s necessary and why Gov. DeWine is saying “it’s not that easy.”
The restaurant industry is arguably one of the hardest hit industries during the COVID-19 pandemic. They are still at 50 percent capacity and there’s a curfew in place, which is forcing many to struggle to stay afloat. That is why the restaurant association is asking Gov. DeWine to put restaurant workers in vaccine Phase 1C.
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Liz Valenti, owner and cook at Wheat Penny, is still only using her restaurant’s patio to serve customers. And, she has no intention of opening the inside of her restaurant until Montgomery County’s stay at home advisory is lifted.
“It’s more about safety,” she said. “It’s imperative here in keeping our customers safe and keeping our staff safe.”
In order to do that, Valenti said the Ohio Restaurant Association has been working with Lt. Gov. Jon Husted and the Ohio Department of Health to prioritize vaccinating restaurant workers.
Valenti said, “We are in the front lines. I feel like restaurant hospitality workers, front of house staff are essential workers that need to be in the que with a sense of urgency to get vaccinated.”
The Ohio Restaurant Association is not the only group wanting a spot next in line. Still to be vaccinated are some of Ohio’s most at risk, such as those with compromised immune systems and underlying health conditions.
Gov. DeWine said that state is still working to figure out who will be in the next phase. He said, “We’re working on where we go next. When we talk to expert and look at the numbers, the best predictor is age and it’s going to take us a while to get through people over 65 years of age.”
Valenti said contact tracing has shown only about 2 percent of COVID cases are traced back to the restaurant industry. Whereas some still unvaccinated groups, like those who work in prisons who also like to be in the next phase, are facing about a 16 percent positivity rate, according to the Ohio Department of Corrections.
In the coming weeks, Ohio will work to vaccinate the 2.2 million people in Phase 1B. Valenti said it’s possible they could hear something about when restaurant workers could get the vaccine as early as next week.
Cox Media Group
