PRWA’s Response to Department of Health

Pittsburgh Restaurant Workers Aid is deeply appalled by the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s continued neglect of workers in the restaurant industry. Today Secretary of Health, Allison Beam, announced updates to eligibility criteria to further expand access to COVID-19 vaccines for Pennsylvanians. 

We want to clarify that workers in the restaurant, hospitality, and food & beverage industries HAVE NOT advanced in COVID-19 vaccination prioritization timeline set forth by the PA Department of Health. We are still a part of the 1C category and not eligible for vaccinations until at least April 12th. Restaurants in our state are set to reduce restrictions on capacity, seating, and hours on April 4th, weeks before many workers in our industry will be able to access their first dose, and months before we will have been fully vaccinated.  

This week, CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky warned of “impending doom” concerning the current spike of COVID-19 cases. Statewide and Allegheny County data illustrates new cases are on the rise. Allegheny County Health Department reported 418 new cases, a nearly 70% increase from the two weeks prior. 

By denying vaccine access to restaurant workers, the PA Department of Health puts our lives at risk and endangers the health and safety of restaurant patrons. The announcement to increase restaurant and bar capacity gives our guests a false sense of security that it is safe to engage in high risk behaviors. Where does this mixed messaging leave unvaccinated restaurant workers? 

Our industry bore the immense burden of closing and reducing capacity at our businesses, since these behaviors are clearly unsafe in the face of a global pandemic. Any move by our state to reduce restaurant restrictions, especially an increase to 75% capacity, is not “incremental,” as quoted by Alison Beam, but will “fling the doors open” and put unvaccinated workers in direct risk of COVID-19 infection and death.

Workers in other public-facing industries have justly been granted vaccine access in PA. Why isn’t the health and safety of restaurant workers valued? Restaurant workers are asked to carry the burden of neighborhood economic renewal without our input being considered. We think it’s time restaurant workers are invited into the discussion for sustainable reopening. If we aren’t at the table, we’re on the menu.