San Francisco Announces Strict Indoor Vaccine Mandate

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The city of San Francisco is now requiring proof of full vaccination for people 12 and older for certain indoor events. It is the first major American city to issue such a requirement. The new mandate goes into effect on August 20th and applies to indoor restaurants, bars, gyms, and theaters, as well as large event spaces. Businesses will have to require proof of vaccination from patrons. Employees are also required to be fully vaccinated.

And, Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett is upholding Indiana University’s vaccine mandate for students heading back to college. Barrett took action Thursday to support an appeals court ruling that ruled IU’s vaccination requirements could legally be enforced. Acting alone and not referring the matter to the full court could be a signal that similar vaccine mandates will also likely be upheld. Indiana University is requiring students to be vaccinated by the start of the fall session on August 23rd.

Also, the school district for the Reno area of northern Nevada says 80 people were exposed to the coronavirus after a parent knowingly sent a child to school two days after learning the student had tested positive for COVID-19. Some students were sent home to quarantine but the district did not specify how many were. Meanwhile, the district urges parents and others to cooperate with disease investigators. Washoe County Health District Communications Manager Scott Oxarart says, “It’s imperative that we collect information from positive cases in order to reduce transmission in the community,” and, “These investigators are getting hung up on. They’ll answer the phone and say, ‘I’m not getting a vaccine.’ There’s instances where there’s pent up emotion and views on COVID-19 that are directed at our staff, and it’s unfair. You know, we’re doing our jobs. We’re trying to decrease the amount of transmissions of COVID-19 in the community.”

Meanwhile, healthcare experts think schools across the nation will experience shutdowns throughout the year. CDC Former Acting Director Dr. Richard Besser says, “I think this is going to be a very challenging school year. And the reason for that, is the Delta variant is so contagious. Last year, we were able to get away with cohorting (sic) children. So, if a case arised (sic) in one classroom, the chances it would go to another classroom weren’t great, if you kept those classes apart. With this strain, we’re not going to be so lucky. So, I think we’re going to see a lot of schools shutting down.”

Currently, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools will require mask wearing for students and teachers this school year.

This episode’s panel features:
WCCB TV’s Morgan Fogarty
WCCB News @ Ten anchor Drew Bollea
WCCB Sports anchor Zach Aldridge