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As the world keeps adapting to COVID, keeping up with restrictions can be challenging. More and more places are requiring proof of vaccination for their customers and/or their workers to help prevent the spread of COVID.
Before you head out of the door, you may want to know whether you should bring your vaccination card or whether a place has a fully vaccinated staff. You may want to know if masks are required, and if so, for whom?
If only there were a quick and easy way to find out…
Good news! Yelp has a solution to this issue and is about to make it much easier to learn about COVID restrictions at bars, restaurants, clubs, and other places you may be visiting. Soon, Yelp will show you the COVID precautions businesses are taking so you know what to expect when you arrive.
You’ll be able to filter your Yelp searches to locate businesses that are taking extra precautions to keep customers and staff safer from COVID.
And Yelp is also making changes to protect businesses from negative reviews based upon their COVID restrictions, instead of the quality of their products, food, and services.
Finding Out About COVID Restrictions on Yelp
Last week, Yelp announced changes to how businesses can let customers know about their COVID protections. Businesses will be able to add to their Yelp pages that proof of vaccination will be required for their customers and/or staff. And you’ll be able to search for businesses according to their COVID requirements.
Yelp is adding two new COVID restriction filters to its search. Soon, you’ll be able to search on Yelp for businesses that:
- Require proof of vaccination for their customers
- Require their staff to be vaccinated
Yelp users who are concerned about getting infected with COVID can filter their search results for businesses that require proof of vaccination for customers and for businesses whose staff is fully vaccinated. You’ll be able to see search results that show only businesses that meet either or both of these criteria.
In its announcement on Thursday, Yelp stated, “Today, Yelp is announcing two new, free attributes – ‘Proof of vaccination required’ and ‘All staff fully vaccinated.’ Users will be able to filter by these attributes when searching for local businesses on Yelp and will easily see ‘Proof of vaccination required’ indicated on restaurant, food and nightlife businesses in search results.”
Yelp listings also show whether masks are required, for customers, staff, or both.
Yelp Is Protecting Businesses from Review Bombings
As businesses take measures to protect their customers and staff from COVID, Yelp is taking steps to protect businesses from trolls who might leave negative reviews based on COVID restrictions.
Unfortunately, since the start of the pandemic Yelp has seen an increase in “review bombing” based on the health and safety measures businesses have taken. So far in 2021, Yelp has removed over 8,000 negative reviews for violating its COVID Content Guidelines. The company anticipates that these COVID updates to its listings and search filters will most likely spur more negative reviews in violation of its guidelines.
Yelp plans to combat review bombings by closely monitoring reviews for businesses that require vaccinations for their staff and proof of vaccination for their customers. The company will also look for unusual spikes in review traffic for businesses, then check to see whether negative reviews are primarily based on COVID precautions. Businesses and customers can also report reviews at the Yelp Report a Review Help Page.
Your Thoughts
Are you interested in these Yelp updates that will help you easily learn about COVID protections at local businesses? Will you filter Yelp searches for businesses that require their staff and/or customers to be vaccinated? Do you like how Yelp is trying to protect businesses from review bombings based on COVID protections?
Share your thoughts in the Comments section below!
This can come handy, as restrictions are changing on a daily basis. The people are getting tired of this madness and everybody hopes that situation will get better soon.
Hi Carl, Exactly. The COVID situation changes rapidly and with it, the restrictions change rapidly. It can be challenging to keep up so tools such as Yelp can make life easier for us. How great is that?