The Mexican Hat restaurant is one of many restaurants it the city gearing up for the implementation of Vaccine Passports in the province come Monday ( Tiffany Goodwein/CHATNewsToday)

By Tiffany Goodwein

‘A lot of questions in the air: Restaurants gear up for new COVID-19 measures

Sep 19, 2021 | 8:56 AM

MEDICINE HAT,AB- As new public health restrictions are set to take effect on Monday, restaurants in the city have been gearing up for what the new reality at their restaurant will look like come Sept. 20.

Mario Padilla is the owner of the Mexican Hat restaurant. In order to keep his dining room open, Padilla has opted to implement the Restrictions Exemption Program. That requires visitors to provide proof of vaccination in order to enter. But Padilla said putting the program in place isn’t so clear-cut.

“It’s only 48 hours for this to start and I still feel like there are a lot of questions in the air, about the proof of vaccinations,” he said.

“At this point people are coming and asking us how this is going to work, and to be honest we don’t know yet. I mean this plan is set up to start on Monday and I don’t feel like it is actually ready to kick off,” Padilla added.

With the divisiveness of vaccines, Padilla is also concerned about his staff who will be faced with asking customers for proof of vaccination.

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“I think it is a matter that invades a little bit of privacy of people. So we don’t know how people are going to react. I mean we are hoping for the best but it is really hard to predict,” he said.

Deni Watson, owner of Truckkers Restaurant shares similar concerns.

“I worry about verbal confrontation. I think when you do things like this people can become quite volatile, and they are angry so they take it out on the person in front of them, and that is concerning. We already have had a few customers who are angry once we explain to them what is going to happen,” she said.

Both restaurant owners said they are very worried about the COVID-19 situation in the city, and they will continue to work hard to ensure their facilities are safe for people to enjoy.

Padilla added he is implementing the latest measures in order to do his part to help the healthcare system in the city.

“We know that there is a problem going on and if this can help a little bit to help the burden on them, then that is what we are going to do. We want to be a part of the solution,” Padilla said.