As the Omicron variant of COVID-19 sickens a record number of Alexandria residents, local restaurants are making moves to protect their diners and employees.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Stomping Ground announced in an email to customers that the restaurant will be closed for indoor dining until Jan. 9, " and then require proof of vaccination for any guest over the age of 12. We will ask guests aged 12 and older receive at least one dose of the COVID vaccine by January 10. A physical CDC vaccination card, digital copy/photo, or other verification app (such as VaxYes or CLEAR) may all be accepted," the restaurant's management announced. "There will be no test-out option at this time. ALL of our staff both front and back of house are fully vaccinated and many are already boosted."
Just a week ago, Neighborhood Restaurant Group management announced that all 19 of its metro area restaurants will require diners to show proof of vaccination to dine indoors. This includes Alexandria restaurants such as Evening Star, Planet Wine, Rustico, Buzz Bakery and the still-temporarily-closed Vermilion and Columbia Firehouse.
While Captain Gregory's was the first dining establishment in Alexandria to require proof of vaccination this summer, Neighborhood Restaurant Group was the first major group of restaurants in Alexandria to announce a vaccine requirement. They did so just a few days after the District of Columbia announced it would require restaurants, gyms and a variety of other businesses to alter the way they serve unvaccinated patrons.
Right now, COVID-19 is running rampant in Northern Virginia and across the country. At-home testing means government data may be under-reporting the actual number of coronavirus cases, but figures from the Virginia Dept. of Health show COVID-19 transmission levels of COVID-19 are higher than ever before in the state.
Alexandria data from the Virginia Dept. of Health is below (details are available here):
Virginia Dept. of Health
Mayor Justin Wilson is currently stuck in Spain — his family was traveling there over the winter holidays and he tested positive with mild symptoms while abroad. The rest of his family, who tested negative, has returned to the United States, but Wilson is quarantining in a hotel in Spain until he is cleared to travel. Wilson received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine earlier this year and got a booster shot this fall to protect against COVID-19.
