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Healing Haiti: The emotional trauma of repeat crises
Steeve Verdieu was at his workstation in his bedroom when the shaking started the morning of Aug. 14. He jumped under his desk and held on as a 7.2-magnitude earthquake tore through his childhood home in southern Haiti.
Mr. Verdieu, 25, said all he could think about was 2010, when a strong earthquake hit the country and left more than 200,000 people dead.
“Most of these adults that are in their mid-20s and 30s have vivid memories,” according to John Fitts, assistant director of Sent To Serve. He started working in the nonprofit sector in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake.
“I can’t even relate to it,” Mr. Fitts said. “If you didn’t live through it, you cannot relate.”
Mr. Verdieu emerged to find his family alive and his home in crumbles.
“In the neighborhood, we have only one child who died the day of the earthquake, but mentally, everybody feels bad,” he said. “Also, we are really frustrated right now because it tends to rain, and everybody is outside right now. So, we are a little bit afraid.”
Mr. Verdieu said that his community has not seen or heard of government authorities coming to offer guidance on next steps.
So, he started posting photos and videos to his Twitter account to seek help.
Surviving to heal
Many Haitians are forced to quickly turn the page after major crises, said Mr. Fitts.
“Survival overrides emotional shock,” he said. “They’re not going to have time. They’re not going to think emotional wellness at this point. It’s not addressed because they don’t have the opportunity to address it. So, it gets buried.”
More rural areas of Haiti were hit hardest by the recent earthquake, which killed over 2,000 people.
Many people were left without shelter and had limited access to food, clean drinking water, and medical help for those severely injured.
But current problems in Haiti, like shaky leadership after the recent assassination of the country’s president, left many people with no direction on what to do next.
With no information coming in, many, like Mr. Verdieu, took to social media or tried calling family and friends to find help on their own.
Having access to basic needs, like food and water, lessens the emotional trauma after these types of disasters, according to Betty Jean, a licensed professional counselor and global mental health and trauma consultant.
“When there is a crisis like an earthquake, the number one thing people need is a sense of safety and that there are entities that are concerned about their overall well-being,” said Ms. Jean, who is Haitian. “The emotional and mental support that we have to provide to people begins first with attending to those primary needs.”
But that’s not always possible in Haiti, mostly because of poor infrastructure, according to Caleb Lucien, founder of Hosean International Ministries.
“For example, the earthquake took place in the south of Haiti,” said Mr. Lucien, who is Haitian. “There has been some gang violence blocking passage from Port-au-Prince [the capital] to the south. Because of the gang fighting, it has been difficult to take the risk of traveling by road. So, airplanes from the capital city have been trying to get supplies there.”
More than resilient
Haitians are usually applauded for their inner strength to keep pushing amid crises. But it’s important to understand that there is often grief behind their resiliency, according to Ms. Jean.
“Sometimes I struggle with that word,” she said. “When I say resilient, I mean they will survive. But we are talking about a traumatized people. I definitely believe the people of Haiti are a people that have PTSD. The Haitian people have not yet fully healed from the first earthquake. I don’t think there was time. And many Haitians are suffering silently right now.”
The trauma shows itself in various ways, said Wilford Marous, entrepreneur and founder of the Haitian Chamber of Commerce in Great Britain.
“I went traveling in Europe with some colleagues of mine to attend some conferences, and one of them, who is Haitian, refused to sleep in a building because he believed it was too high,” he said. “He still had this fear of the earthquake.”
Children are often most affected, Mr. Fitts said.
“They don’t know what to do with it,” he said. “Their parents are not there necessarily to give them the emotional support that they need because they’re just trying to survive when things like this happen. So, a lot of things don’t get addressed and they’re taught early on to move on.”
Hosean International Ministries evacuated 1,500 people after the earthquake in 2010, and 750 of them were kids. The group stayed on the charity’s campground, and children had the chance to continue their education through its school system.
“Kids had issues sleeping,” Mr. Lucien said. “They are dealing with the loss of their loved ones. Some of them lost their moms. Some lost their brothers and sisters. So, we had to work with them and try to get them through that process.”
The charity offered children and their parents counseling sessions to lessen some of the emotional impact after the earthquake.
Common trauma responses
But keep in mind that symptoms like depression and sleeplessness would be common for most people going through mental health crises, such as major natural disasters or war, said Guglielmo Schininà, head of mental health and psychosocial support at the International Organization for Migration.
“It’s important not to jump to conclusions with diagnoses for mental illness or disorders,” Mr. Schininà said. In other situations, psychological effects like these could be symptoms of mental disorders. But in this situation, these are just normal reactions.”
Alongside trauma from natural disasters, many Haitians are angry about the chaos in the country, given the number of resources brought to Haiti over the past decade, according to Ms. Jean.
“We should have had better infrastructure, better roads, lights, emergency plans, trauma hospitals,” she said. “The resources were there.”
The constant lack of safety and security within the country can have ugly outcomes, she said.
“A lot of the political instability, rebels, gang activity, and war within those in politics has been because oppositions feel that those who are in power have not done a very good job of upgrading the Haitian lifestyle,” Ms. Jean said.
Unity and public togetherness are key in times like these, Mr. Marous said. He suggests finding creative ways to promote widespread healing.
“Even if it’s trying to start some sort of healing process through the media,” he said. “Having someone talk to the population, even on TV, 1 hour in the morning. That might be a way to offer some sort of help to the population at large.”
Strategic rebuilding
Haitians across the world are rallying together to keep spirits high, while also helping with recovery efforts, Ms. Jean said.
“We have to step in for the morale of the young people,” she said. “They’re tired. They’re hungry. They want to be cared for. So, our role in the diaspora is really critical in helping Haitians come out of this very traumatic time.”
Hosean International Ministries is organizing and sending supplies to parts of Haiti hardest hit by the earthquake. The ministry is also helping to rebuild some of the homes destroyed by the earthquake.
It’s important to keep in mind lessons learned from past recovery efforts, said Mr. Lucien.
“What we need to do is work with local leaders, asking them exactly what it is that they need,” he said. “The tendency is to rush and say what you’re going to bring. People brought things in 2010 that were not needed. Look for people on the ground, and work with them to provide the help.”
“My call to the international community is how can we come alongside of this resilient nation to alleviate some of the pressure,” Jean said. “But whether or not the help comes, I do believe the Haitian people, yet again, will rise day to day, until we restore and rebuild again.”
This is certainly true for Mr. Verdieu.
He has already launched an online campaign to rebuild his home.
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.
Steeve Verdieu was at his workstation in his bedroom when the shaking started the morning of Aug. 14. He jumped under his desk and held on as a 7.2-magnitude earthquake tore through his childhood home in southern Haiti.
Mr. Verdieu, 25, said all he could think about was 2010, when a strong earthquake hit the country and left more than 200,000 people dead.
“Most of these adults that are in their mid-20s and 30s have vivid memories,” according to John Fitts, assistant director of Sent To Serve. He started working in the nonprofit sector in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake.
“I can’t even relate to it,” Mr. Fitts said. “If you didn’t live through it, you cannot relate.”
Mr. Verdieu emerged to find his family alive and his home in crumbles.
“In the neighborhood, we have only one child who died the day of the earthquake, but mentally, everybody feels bad,” he said. “Also, we are really frustrated right now because it tends to rain, and everybody is outside right now. So, we are a little bit afraid.”
Mr. Verdieu said that his community has not seen or heard of government authorities coming to offer guidance on next steps.
So, he started posting photos and videos to his Twitter account to seek help.
Surviving to heal
Many Haitians are forced to quickly turn the page after major crises, said Mr. Fitts.
“Survival overrides emotional shock,” he said. “They’re not going to have time. They’re not going to think emotional wellness at this point. It’s not addressed because they don’t have the opportunity to address it. So, it gets buried.”
More rural areas of Haiti were hit hardest by the recent earthquake, which killed over 2,000 people.
Many people were left without shelter and had limited access to food, clean drinking water, and medical help for those severely injured.
But current problems in Haiti, like shaky leadership after the recent assassination of the country’s president, left many people with no direction on what to do next.
With no information coming in, many, like Mr. Verdieu, took to social media or tried calling family and friends to find help on their own.
Having access to basic needs, like food and water, lessens the emotional trauma after these types of disasters, according to Betty Jean, a licensed professional counselor and global mental health and trauma consultant.
“When there is a crisis like an earthquake, the number one thing people need is a sense of safety and that there are entities that are concerned about their overall well-being,” said Ms. Jean, who is Haitian. “The emotional and mental support that we have to provide to people begins first with attending to those primary needs.”
But that’s not always possible in Haiti, mostly because of poor infrastructure, according to Caleb Lucien, founder of Hosean International Ministries.
“For example, the earthquake took place in the south of Haiti,” said Mr. Lucien, who is Haitian. “There has been some gang violence blocking passage from Port-au-Prince [the capital] to the south. Because of the gang fighting, it has been difficult to take the risk of traveling by road. So, airplanes from the capital city have been trying to get supplies there.”
More than resilient
Haitians are usually applauded for their inner strength to keep pushing amid crises. But it’s important to understand that there is often grief behind their resiliency, according to Ms. Jean.
“Sometimes I struggle with that word,” she said. “When I say resilient, I mean they will survive. But we are talking about a traumatized people. I definitely believe the people of Haiti are a people that have PTSD. The Haitian people have not yet fully healed from the first earthquake. I don’t think there was time. And many Haitians are suffering silently right now.”
The trauma shows itself in various ways, said Wilford Marous, entrepreneur and founder of the Haitian Chamber of Commerce in Great Britain.
“I went traveling in Europe with some colleagues of mine to attend some conferences, and one of them, who is Haitian, refused to sleep in a building because he believed it was too high,” he said. “He still had this fear of the earthquake.”
Children are often most affected, Mr. Fitts said.
“They don’t know what to do with it,” he said. “Their parents are not there necessarily to give them the emotional support that they need because they’re just trying to survive when things like this happen. So, a lot of things don’t get addressed and they’re taught early on to move on.”
Hosean International Ministries evacuated 1,500 people after the earthquake in 2010, and 750 of them were kids. The group stayed on the charity’s campground, and children had the chance to continue their education through its school system.
“Kids had issues sleeping,” Mr. Lucien said. “They are dealing with the loss of their loved ones. Some of them lost their moms. Some lost their brothers and sisters. So, we had to work with them and try to get them through that process.”
The charity offered children and their parents counseling sessions to lessen some of the emotional impact after the earthquake.
Common trauma responses
But keep in mind that symptoms like depression and sleeplessness would be common for most people going through mental health crises, such as major natural disasters or war, said Guglielmo Schininà, head of mental health and psychosocial support at the International Organization for Migration.
“It’s important not to jump to conclusions with diagnoses for mental illness or disorders,” Mr. Schininà said. In other situations, psychological effects like these could be symptoms of mental disorders. But in this situation, these are just normal reactions.”
Alongside trauma from natural disasters, many Haitians are angry about the chaos in the country, given the number of resources brought to Haiti over the past decade, according to Ms. Jean.
“We should have had better infrastructure, better roads, lights, emergency plans, trauma hospitals,” she said. “The resources were there.”
The constant lack of safety and security within the country can have ugly outcomes, she said.
“A lot of the political instability, rebels, gang activity, and war within those in politics has been because oppositions feel that those who are in power have not done a very good job of upgrading the Haitian lifestyle,” Ms. Jean said.
Unity and public togetherness are key in times like these, Mr. Marous said. He suggests finding creative ways to promote widespread healing.
“Even if it’s trying to start some sort of healing process through the media,” he said. “Having someone talk to the population, even on TV, 1 hour in the morning. That might be a way to offer some sort of help to the population at large.”
Strategic rebuilding
Haitians across the world are rallying together to keep spirits high, while also helping with recovery efforts, Ms. Jean said.
“We have to step in for the morale of the young people,” she said. “They’re tired. They’re hungry. They want to be cared for. So, our role in the diaspora is really critical in helping Haitians come out of this very traumatic time.”
Hosean International Ministries is organizing and sending supplies to parts of Haiti hardest hit by the earthquake. The ministry is also helping to rebuild some of the homes destroyed by the earthquake.
It’s important to keep in mind lessons learned from past recovery efforts, said Mr. Lucien.
“What we need to do is work with local leaders, asking them exactly what it is that they need,” he said. “The tendency is to rush and say what you’re going to bring. People brought things in 2010 that were not needed. Look for people on the ground, and work with them to provide the help.”
“My call to the international community is how can we come alongside of this resilient nation to alleviate some of the pressure,” Jean said. “But whether or not the help comes, I do believe the Haitian people, yet again, will rise day to day, until we restore and rebuild again.”
This is certainly true for Mr. Verdieu.
He has already launched an online campaign to rebuild his home.
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.
Steeve Verdieu was at his workstation in his bedroom when the shaking started the morning of Aug. 14. He jumped under his desk and held on as a 7.2-magnitude earthquake tore through his childhood home in southern Haiti.
Mr. Verdieu, 25, said all he could think about was 2010, when a strong earthquake hit the country and left more than 200,000 people dead.
“Most of these adults that are in their mid-20s and 30s have vivid memories,” according to John Fitts, assistant director of Sent To Serve. He started working in the nonprofit sector in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake.
“I can’t even relate to it,” Mr. Fitts said. “If you didn’t live through it, you cannot relate.”
Mr. Verdieu emerged to find his family alive and his home in crumbles.
“In the neighborhood, we have only one child who died the day of the earthquake, but mentally, everybody feels bad,” he said. “Also, we are really frustrated right now because it tends to rain, and everybody is outside right now. So, we are a little bit afraid.”
Mr. Verdieu said that his community has not seen or heard of government authorities coming to offer guidance on next steps.
So, he started posting photos and videos to his Twitter account to seek help.
Surviving to heal
Many Haitians are forced to quickly turn the page after major crises, said Mr. Fitts.
“Survival overrides emotional shock,” he said. “They’re not going to have time. They’re not going to think emotional wellness at this point. It’s not addressed because they don’t have the opportunity to address it. So, it gets buried.”
More rural areas of Haiti were hit hardest by the recent earthquake, which killed over 2,000 people.
Many people were left without shelter and had limited access to food, clean drinking water, and medical help for those severely injured.
But current problems in Haiti, like shaky leadership after the recent assassination of the country’s president, left many people with no direction on what to do next.
With no information coming in, many, like Mr. Verdieu, took to social media or tried calling family and friends to find help on their own.
Having access to basic needs, like food and water, lessens the emotional trauma after these types of disasters, according to Betty Jean, a licensed professional counselor and global mental health and trauma consultant.
“When there is a crisis like an earthquake, the number one thing people need is a sense of safety and that there are entities that are concerned about their overall well-being,” said Ms. Jean, who is Haitian. “The emotional and mental support that we have to provide to people begins first with attending to those primary needs.”
But that’s not always possible in Haiti, mostly because of poor infrastructure, according to Caleb Lucien, founder of Hosean International Ministries.
“For example, the earthquake took place in the south of Haiti,” said Mr. Lucien, who is Haitian. “There has been some gang violence blocking passage from Port-au-Prince [the capital] to the south. Because of the gang fighting, it has been difficult to take the risk of traveling by road. So, airplanes from the capital city have been trying to get supplies there.”
More than resilient
Haitians are usually applauded for their inner strength to keep pushing amid crises. But it’s important to understand that there is often grief behind their resiliency, according to Ms. Jean.
“Sometimes I struggle with that word,” she said. “When I say resilient, I mean they will survive. But we are talking about a traumatized people. I definitely believe the people of Haiti are a people that have PTSD. The Haitian people have not yet fully healed from the first earthquake. I don’t think there was time. And many Haitians are suffering silently right now.”
The trauma shows itself in various ways, said Wilford Marous, entrepreneur and founder of the Haitian Chamber of Commerce in Great Britain.
“I went traveling in Europe with some colleagues of mine to attend some conferences, and one of them, who is Haitian, refused to sleep in a building because he believed it was too high,” he said. “He still had this fear of the earthquake.”
Children are often most affected, Mr. Fitts said.
“They don’t know what to do with it,” he said. “Their parents are not there necessarily to give them the emotional support that they need because they’re just trying to survive when things like this happen. So, a lot of things don’t get addressed and they’re taught early on to move on.”
Hosean International Ministries evacuated 1,500 people after the earthquake in 2010, and 750 of them were kids. The group stayed on the charity’s campground, and children had the chance to continue their education through its school system.
“Kids had issues sleeping,” Mr. Lucien said. “They are dealing with the loss of their loved ones. Some of them lost their moms. Some lost their brothers and sisters. So, we had to work with them and try to get them through that process.”
The charity offered children and their parents counseling sessions to lessen some of the emotional impact after the earthquake.
Common trauma responses
But keep in mind that symptoms like depression and sleeplessness would be common for most people going through mental health crises, such as major natural disasters or war, said Guglielmo Schininà, head of mental health and psychosocial support at the International Organization for Migration.
“It’s important not to jump to conclusions with diagnoses for mental illness or disorders,” Mr. Schininà said. In other situations, psychological effects like these could be symptoms of mental disorders. But in this situation, these are just normal reactions.”
Alongside trauma from natural disasters, many Haitians are angry about the chaos in the country, given the number of resources brought to Haiti over the past decade, according to Ms. Jean.
“We should have had better infrastructure, better roads, lights, emergency plans, trauma hospitals,” she said. “The resources were there.”
The constant lack of safety and security within the country can have ugly outcomes, she said.
“A lot of the political instability, rebels, gang activity, and war within those in politics has been because oppositions feel that those who are in power have not done a very good job of upgrading the Haitian lifestyle,” Ms. Jean said.
Unity and public togetherness are key in times like these, Mr. Marous said. He suggests finding creative ways to promote widespread healing.
“Even if it’s trying to start some sort of healing process through the media,” he said. “Having someone talk to the population, even on TV, 1 hour in the morning. That might be a way to offer some sort of help to the population at large.”
Strategic rebuilding
Haitians across the world are rallying together to keep spirits high, while also helping with recovery efforts, Ms. Jean said.
“We have to step in for the morale of the young people,” she said. “They’re tired. They’re hungry. They want to be cared for. So, our role in the diaspora is really critical in helping Haitians come out of this very traumatic time.”
Hosean International Ministries is organizing and sending supplies to parts of Haiti hardest hit by the earthquake. The ministry is also helping to rebuild some of the homes destroyed by the earthquake.
It’s important to keep in mind lessons learned from past recovery efforts, said Mr. Lucien.
“What we need to do is work with local leaders, asking them exactly what it is that they need,” he said. “The tendency is to rush and say what you’re going to bring. People brought things in 2010 that were not needed. Look for people on the ground, and work with them to provide the help.”
“My call to the international community is how can we come alongside of this resilient nation to alleviate some of the pressure,” Jean said. “But whether or not the help comes, I do believe the Haitian people, yet again, will rise day to day, until we restore and rebuild again.”
This is certainly true for Mr. Verdieu.
He has already launched an online campaign to rebuild his home.
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.
Yelp’s new feature shows if businesses require vaccinations
“I’ve been vaccinated for 2 months. I’ll be there!”
“Such a great call.”
“Discrimination and segregation always worked so well in the past, why not repeat it!”
These are just a few examples of the types of online reactions that restaurants have received after taking the bold move to require vaccines, something that may happen more often now with Yelp’s two new features.
Businesses’ concerns about the Delta variant played a major role in the decision, according to a statement by Noorie Malik, vice president of user operations at Yelp.
Ms. Malik also explained how Yelp plans to handle any chaos that arises, especially given the controversial nature of vaccinations, COVID-19 safety measures, and the pandemic in general.
City Winery, a live music venue, restaurant, and urban winery with locations across the country, requires that customers either show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of entry.
Customers with neither have the option to take a $15 rapid test or dine on the outdoor patio.
City Winery was one of the first Atlanta restaurants to have COVID-19 vaccine requirements.
Laura A. Albers, vice president of marketing for City Winery, supports Yelp’s new move.
“I think it’s wonderful,” she said. “I think one of the things we can do is make people aware of our policies in advance so that they’re not shocked or surprised when they come to the door.”
Ms. Albers also thinks Yelp’s new features could lead to more businesses following suit and enforcing stronger COVID-19 safety policies, like vaccine requirements or proof of a negative COVID-19 test.
“I think more restaurants and venues will join forces and do the same, the more they see other places doing it,” she said.
Ms. Albers said City Winery has received overwhelmingly positive feedback from customers. There has been a little pushback, but the new surge in cases may cause wary customers to see the new safety measures in a different light.
“Since another week has gone by and people have seen the uptick in the Delta variant, this policy is not as foreign as it was,” Ms. Albers says. “I think people are becoming more accustomed to it.”
Review bombing
Harmful Yelp reviews have been a big problem over the course of the pandemic, according to Ms. Malik.
Yelp reviews must be based on a user’s first-hand experience with the business. But during the pandemic, many users have used the reviews section to air their opinions on a business’s COVID-19 policies, she said.
Yelp places “Unusual Activity Alerts” on pages that get lots of traffic or public attention based on a business’s COVID-19 safety practices.
Since January, over 100 of these alerts have resulted in almost 4,500 reviews being removed, according to Ms. Malik.
If users decide to wreak havoc on a business’s Yelp page for its COVID-19 safety measures, also known as “review bombing,” Yelp places an Unusual Activity Alert and examines the page, removing any harmful content.
Users might lose the ability to post on the business’s page temporarily.
Yelp launched special COVID-19 guidelines in March 2021 to protect businesses from “reputational harm related to the pandemic,” according to Ms. Malik.
This includes review bombing because of a business’s vaccine requirements.
Yelp has removed 8,000 reviews for violating COVID content guidelines in 2021 alone, Ms. Malik said.
The company took similar steps when launching the “Black-owned” feature in June, as well as with the “Asian-owned” and “Latinx-owned” features. Yelp prevented or removed almost 400 racist or harmful reviews, according to Ms. Malik.
You can report reviews on the app or the Yelp website if you’re logged in.
Business leaders can add the “Proof of vaccination required” and “All staff fully vaccinated” features under the Business Information section of their accounts. “Masks required” and “Staff wears masks” features are also available.
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.
“I’ve been vaccinated for 2 months. I’ll be there!”
“Such a great call.”
“Discrimination and segregation always worked so well in the past, why not repeat it!”
These are just a few examples of the types of online reactions that restaurants have received after taking the bold move to require vaccines, something that may happen more often now with Yelp’s two new features.
Businesses’ concerns about the Delta variant played a major role in the decision, according to a statement by Noorie Malik, vice president of user operations at Yelp.
Ms. Malik also explained how Yelp plans to handle any chaos that arises, especially given the controversial nature of vaccinations, COVID-19 safety measures, and the pandemic in general.
City Winery, a live music venue, restaurant, and urban winery with locations across the country, requires that customers either show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of entry.
Customers with neither have the option to take a $15 rapid test or dine on the outdoor patio.
City Winery was one of the first Atlanta restaurants to have COVID-19 vaccine requirements.
Laura A. Albers, vice president of marketing for City Winery, supports Yelp’s new move.
“I think it’s wonderful,” she said. “I think one of the things we can do is make people aware of our policies in advance so that they’re not shocked or surprised when they come to the door.”
Ms. Albers also thinks Yelp’s new features could lead to more businesses following suit and enforcing stronger COVID-19 safety policies, like vaccine requirements or proof of a negative COVID-19 test.
“I think more restaurants and venues will join forces and do the same, the more they see other places doing it,” she said.
Ms. Albers said City Winery has received overwhelmingly positive feedback from customers. There has been a little pushback, but the new surge in cases may cause wary customers to see the new safety measures in a different light.
“Since another week has gone by and people have seen the uptick in the Delta variant, this policy is not as foreign as it was,” Ms. Albers says. “I think people are becoming more accustomed to it.”
Review bombing
Harmful Yelp reviews have been a big problem over the course of the pandemic, according to Ms. Malik.
Yelp reviews must be based on a user’s first-hand experience with the business. But during the pandemic, many users have used the reviews section to air their opinions on a business’s COVID-19 policies, she said.
Yelp places “Unusual Activity Alerts” on pages that get lots of traffic or public attention based on a business’s COVID-19 safety practices.
Since January, over 100 of these alerts have resulted in almost 4,500 reviews being removed, according to Ms. Malik.
If users decide to wreak havoc on a business’s Yelp page for its COVID-19 safety measures, also known as “review bombing,” Yelp places an Unusual Activity Alert and examines the page, removing any harmful content.
Users might lose the ability to post on the business’s page temporarily.
Yelp launched special COVID-19 guidelines in March 2021 to protect businesses from “reputational harm related to the pandemic,” according to Ms. Malik.
This includes review bombing because of a business’s vaccine requirements.
Yelp has removed 8,000 reviews for violating COVID content guidelines in 2021 alone, Ms. Malik said.
The company took similar steps when launching the “Black-owned” feature in June, as well as with the “Asian-owned” and “Latinx-owned” features. Yelp prevented or removed almost 400 racist or harmful reviews, according to Ms. Malik.
You can report reviews on the app or the Yelp website if you’re logged in.
Business leaders can add the “Proof of vaccination required” and “All staff fully vaccinated” features under the Business Information section of their accounts. “Masks required” and “Staff wears masks” features are also available.
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.
“I’ve been vaccinated for 2 months. I’ll be there!”
“Such a great call.”
“Discrimination and segregation always worked so well in the past, why not repeat it!”
These are just a few examples of the types of online reactions that restaurants have received after taking the bold move to require vaccines, something that may happen more often now with Yelp’s two new features.
Businesses’ concerns about the Delta variant played a major role in the decision, according to a statement by Noorie Malik, vice president of user operations at Yelp.
Ms. Malik also explained how Yelp plans to handle any chaos that arises, especially given the controversial nature of vaccinations, COVID-19 safety measures, and the pandemic in general.
City Winery, a live music venue, restaurant, and urban winery with locations across the country, requires that customers either show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of entry.
Customers with neither have the option to take a $15 rapid test or dine on the outdoor patio.
City Winery was one of the first Atlanta restaurants to have COVID-19 vaccine requirements.
Laura A. Albers, vice president of marketing for City Winery, supports Yelp’s new move.
“I think it’s wonderful,” she said. “I think one of the things we can do is make people aware of our policies in advance so that they’re not shocked or surprised when they come to the door.”
Ms. Albers also thinks Yelp’s new features could lead to more businesses following suit and enforcing stronger COVID-19 safety policies, like vaccine requirements or proof of a negative COVID-19 test.
“I think more restaurants and venues will join forces and do the same, the more they see other places doing it,” she said.
Ms. Albers said City Winery has received overwhelmingly positive feedback from customers. There has been a little pushback, but the new surge in cases may cause wary customers to see the new safety measures in a different light.
“Since another week has gone by and people have seen the uptick in the Delta variant, this policy is not as foreign as it was,” Ms. Albers says. “I think people are becoming more accustomed to it.”
Review bombing
Harmful Yelp reviews have been a big problem over the course of the pandemic, according to Ms. Malik.
Yelp reviews must be based on a user’s first-hand experience with the business. But during the pandemic, many users have used the reviews section to air their opinions on a business’s COVID-19 policies, she said.
Yelp places “Unusual Activity Alerts” on pages that get lots of traffic or public attention based on a business’s COVID-19 safety practices.
Since January, over 100 of these alerts have resulted in almost 4,500 reviews being removed, according to Ms. Malik.
If users decide to wreak havoc on a business’s Yelp page for its COVID-19 safety measures, also known as “review bombing,” Yelp places an Unusual Activity Alert and examines the page, removing any harmful content.
Users might lose the ability to post on the business’s page temporarily.
Yelp launched special COVID-19 guidelines in March 2021 to protect businesses from “reputational harm related to the pandemic,” according to Ms. Malik.
This includes review bombing because of a business’s vaccine requirements.
Yelp has removed 8,000 reviews for violating COVID content guidelines in 2021 alone, Ms. Malik said.
The company took similar steps when launching the “Black-owned” feature in June, as well as with the “Asian-owned” and “Latinx-owned” features. Yelp prevented or removed almost 400 racist or harmful reviews, according to Ms. Malik.
You can report reviews on the app or the Yelp website if you’re logged in.
Business leaders can add the “Proof of vaccination required” and “All staff fully vaccinated” features under the Business Information section of their accounts. “Masks required” and “Staff wears masks” features are also available.
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.