Secure access Oahu calls for inconvenience, but they are better than a lock

by

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – On Monday, restaurants and bars in Oahu will require a vaccination test or a negative COVID test under a program aimed at tackling an ongoing COVID rise.

Several restaurants said the new Safe Access Oahu is better than another closure.

“I am just happy to be able to stay open. That’s the most important thing: we stay open, ”said Dylan Ching, vice president of operations for TS Restaurants, which owns Duke’s and other food and beverage establishments.

CONTINUOUS COVERAGE:

– Oahu companies, state facilities prepare to begin reviewing vaccine cards and COVID testing

– The governor’s large vaccine or test order affects thousands of state contractors

– Questions: Come Monday, this is where you will need to show your vaccine card or COVID test

He said the new term has increased vaccination rates among employees.

But it also adds a new layer of costs and hassle to accommodating unvaccinated workers who have to take weekly tests.

“If they fail to do the tests, we can’t schedule them, so we can’t open certain sections or even certain meal periods,” he said.

Ching and other restaurant operators have been preparing for new vaccination mandates since Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi announced the rule change on Aug. 30.

At Safe Access Oahu, customers will now have to ask for a vaccination test or a negative COVID test from a lot of companies (from restaurants to gyms).

The program also has a vaccine or trial warrant for restaurant employees.

Ching said his company installed other host stations at its entrances to explain to customers why they have to prove vaccination or take a negative test within 48 hours.

Customers can provide vaccination tests by hanging their vaccination cards in an app that is part of the state’s Safe Travels website or they can bring a hard copy or a photo of their vaccination card.

Many restaurants provide scripts to their employees so they can explain to customers what the new requirements are. And many of these employees have been trained to handle potentially tense situations.

“Most restaurateurs have trained their employees in escalation. The de-escalation began when the mask’s mandate became an indoor requirement, ”said Sheryl Matsuoka, executive director of the Hawaii Restaurant Association.

Copyright 2021 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.

.Source