Santa Barbara bar prepares for June 15 reopen by hosting COVID-19 vaccine clinic Sunday
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — Santa Barbara is finishing their first and only weekend in the ‘Yellow Tier’ of California’s reopening plan. Bars, churches, gyms and restaurants are allowed to welcome guests indoors at 50% capacity. On June 15, Governor Gavin Newsom is expected to reopen California fully. That will mean businesses can welcome 100%. And those who are fully vaccinated are not required to wear a mask in most places.
Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wildcat Lounge hosted a COVID-19 vaccine clinic. The clinic will be next door in the parking lot. The Downtown Santa Barbara restaurant and bar is just off State Street at 15 West Ortega Street.
In the back patio Wildcat Lounge hosted a drag brunch Sunday afternoon. Before the show started drag queen and emcee, Vivian Storm showed off the nurses administering the vaccine. “If you want the vaccine it is right there honey. Go get you a shot and we’ll give you a shot,” said Storm.
She added she'd tired of COVID-19 and the restriction needed to keep people safe. “I am over it," she said. "I’m ready to just go out and have a good time with folks. And to hug again without worry.”
Holly Sunyogh came to watch the drag show. She agrees with Storm, “I’m just ready for [COVID-19] to be over. Things to open back up. But, you know, I want everyone to be safe first. Get vaccinated,” said Sunyogh.
This weekend Santa Barbara County bars, churches, gyms, restaurants and other businesses were able to have 50% capacity indoors under the 'Yellow Tier' of the state’s COVID-19 reopening guidelines.
And on June 15 the state is expected to expand that to 100% capacity and loosen mask mandates for fully vaccinated people.
Wildcat Lounge's coowner, Dawn Stout, can't wait for restrictions to be lifted. “So excited," said Stout. "It’s just huge for us. We’ve been so careful and really trying hard to keep our employees safe and customers safe. And to look forward to open back up again and letting people dance. It’s just really exciting.”
To get ready for the June 15 reopening, Wildcat hosted a walkup vaccination clinic in their parking lot. Lu Cheng saw it and got vaccinated.
“I see the open," said Cheng, "open position, like it’s time to get the vaccine. Everything is open. I see it. I got the shot.”
“I wanted to do it for myself and for my friends," recalled Sunyogh about her vaccine. "But yeah, it hurt a little bit. A little sore. But well worth it.”
“It’s also another huge thing, we just really want everybody to get vaccinated so they can be safe," said Stout. "People can go out, have fun, travel, you know back to their normal lives.”
Appointments are available at MyTurn or walk-ins are welcomed. They advertise the Moderna vaccine will be given for those needing their second dose.
