WORCESTER, Mass. - A petition on Tuesday night’s City Council agenda has created a stir across social media.

The petition from Worcester resident and former city council candidate Doug Arbetter is asking the City to consider implementing a vaccine mandate requiring proof of vaccination -- commonly known as a “vaccine passport” --  for entry into restaurants, fitness centers and entertainment venues in the city.

Photos of the agenda item have made the rounds on Worcester-focused Facebook groups, Instagram stories and commentary across Twitter with both outcry from opponents of the vaccine passport and praise for Arbetter from those in support.

On Monday, Spectrum News 1 asked City Manager Ed Augustus if the City had any designs to enact a mandate requiring proof of vaccination. Augustus said there are currently no plans for a vaccine mandate and other measures taken by the City should help COVID-19 case numbers from the omicron variant surge continue to fall.

“I am not considering implementing a vaccine passport at this time,” Augustus said in a statement. “With all that small businesses have endured through the pandemic and during this recent wave of the Omicron variant, I don’t want to do anything that will destabilize them even more. We’ll continue to be committed to our other COVID-19 measures to ensure that case numbers continue to fall in the city.”

As of Jan. 15, a vaccine passport is required in Boston at restaurants, gyms and entertainment center.  Last week, Somerville rejected a citywide vaccine passport. 

The City of Worcester currently has a mask mandate in place for all indoor public spaces until further notice.