CC's, a Capitol Hill Gay bar, started requiring proof of vaccination on May 22.

According to a Facebook post made by the owner, Chris Daw on May 2, this action was prompted by the "confusion and frustration over what the right thing to do" was, and it seemed like the best way to keep their focus, which Daw described as " the safety of our employees and customers."

Because all in attendance will be vaccinated, CC's will have a new masking guideline: "no mask, no problem." Customers will also not be required to socially distance. Daw hopes that through this action, people can feel safe while attempting to return to "normal," post-COVID life.

Daw said the new requirement "is in protest to the latest masking (suggestion/requirement) by the King County Public Health director, and the confusing burdens it places on businesses to comply."

On May 20, King County public health officials issued a directive, urging residents to continue wearing face masks in indoor public settings, even if they had completed their vaccines. It is directives such as this that have frustrated Daw and other business owners, who are working their best to reopen in a safe way.

Although businesses have the ability to make their own decisions, the directive stated, "businesses that are open to the public are strongly encouraged to continue ensuring [that] their customers and employees wear face masks."

While Daw hopes this will provide an incentive to get vaccinated, he does believe that it is a personal choice. On his post he said, "Our decision to proceed this way was not based on the ideology of vaccinations and excluding those that haven't received one. I am a firm believer in the individual's right to decide what goes into their body and the choice not to!"

While printouts of a CDC COVID-19 vaccination record card, a Washington state certificate of COVID-19 vaccination, and a Washington state Immunization Information System record are all acceptable proof of vaccination, CC's will be satisfied with a picture proving completion of the vaccine. Pictures of vaccine cards must match the name and date of birth of one's legal ID; without this, patrons will be denied entry.

Some customers love this idea, others not so much. According to Tanya Basu, in a 2021 article in MIT Technology Review, some people are "weaponizing Yelp to punish bars that require vaccine proof." These negative reviews can destroy restaurants and bars as they try to reopen in a safe way. According to Basu, CC's became familiar with this when they received an alert from Yelp after requiring patrons to show proof of vaccination for entry.

Daw believes this to be a decent solution for the time being: "The rule is only temporary until everyone agrees the state/county/city can completely reopen without restrictions." He is hoping there will be no other restrictions by June 30.

Because businesses have the right to choose whether they require proof of vaccination, CC's serves as an example of one option. With many businesses struggling to figure out their next move is for safely reopening, one might question if this is the future direction of businesses in Seattle. As with anything COVID related, only time will tell.