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The AIDS epidemic was considerably worsened by a lack of government intervention. The memory of the AIDS epidemic, Taylor said, isn't far from his and co-owner Steve Murphy's mind. And it'd be my decision rather than someone telling me to do it."īoth Dru's Place and the Pumping Station have customer bases largely comprised of LGBTQ individuals. But I know that I would much rather make this decision. I don't know what goes on in the health department or the city council's or any of that crap. "I don't know that they will go with another shutdown," Montgomery said, referring to the COVID-19 joint task force.
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In a year that has been punishing for the restaurant and entertainment industry, enacting a vaccine requirement is a way to regain a measure of control and ensure your patrons are kept safe. She hopes that other establishment owners will follow suit. She thought about it for a few weeks before enacting the policy. "I fully expected some backlash," she said. "But, I have gotten a lot more positive comments than negative, I can tell you that." Montgomery's decision, she said, wasn't a hasty one. So far, Montgomery said the announced decision has been met mostly with support. MORE: Bruce Bui, a beloved Memphis costume designer and outlandish drag queen, dies at 44 And if a patron is routinely removing their mask, that means they are constantly touching a piece of protective fabric worn over the mouth and, "everything they touch is going to have whatever germs on it," Montgomery said. Patrons tend to slip their masks up and down while taking a sip. Montgomery said in the case of her bar, requiring masking isn't enough. The vast majority of these critically ill patients are not vaccinated, officials have said. Hospital officials have said this round of hospitalized COVID-19 patients are trending younger compared to previous surges of patients. That total includes children under the age of 12 who are not yet eligible for any COVID-19 vaccines.Īnd while vaccination rates lag, ICU and acute care beds are filling again with people seriously ill from COVID-19. "So we felt like when we broke it down, the safest thing that we could do for our staff, our entertainers, and our customers is to require a vaccine."Ĭurrently, 45% of Shelby County's population is vaccinated. And the numbers are fairly staggering," said Montgomery. "I pay attention to the percentages, as far as the number of the total number of cases, and the number of people who are vaccinated that are contracting COVID, versus the number of people who are not vaccinated. 12, proof of vaccination will earn you discounts on drinks.įor Tami Montgomery, the owner of Dru's Place in Midtown, the decision is squarely based on a desire to protect her community. The Pumping Station will begin requiring proof of vaccination on Aug. Two Midtown LGBTQ bars, Dru's Place and The Pumping Station, are among the first private establishments in Shelby County to introduce a proof-of-vaccination policy.īoth establishments announced their new policies via social media.Īt Dru's Place, a negative COVID-19 test that has been taken in the last 48 hours can serve as a substitute for proof of vaccination.
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While low vaccination rates continue to assist the rapid spread of the delta variant of COVID-19 in Memphis, two bars are now requiring either proof of vaccination, or a recent negative COVID-19 test before entry is allowed. Watch Video: Are vaccine mandates legal? Here's what employers are allowed to do