California Announces New COVID-19 Restrictions
California recently announced the tightening of its COVID-19 guidelines for large indoor events as the Delta variant progresses.
Per the Los Angeles Times, updated guidance from the state of California mandates that organizers whose events have at least 1,000 people present must verify that all attendees are vaccinated against COVID-19 or tested negative within 72 hours. This rule already applies to crowds of at least 5,000, and the new guidance begins on September 20.
📣 Beginning 9/20, proof of vaccination or a negative #COVID19 test will be required for indoor events w/1,000+ attending. This new measure will help encourage more vaccinations & increase safety at events while ensuring businesses can thrive. More info: https://t.co/q2LfCiCBeh pic.twitter.com/bklps6o6Vn
— CA Public Health (@CAPublicHealth) August 19, 2021
State officials banned self-attestation, where people verbally verified that they were either vaccinated or had a negative COVID test. Instead, attendees must physically show proof in the form of their vaccination cards. California Governor Gavin Newsom wrote to the public on Twitter, “CA is now the first state to require attendees for large events to be vaccinated or show proof of a negative test.” He urged people to protect themselves and their loved ones by getting vaccinated.
CA is now the first state to require attendees for large events to be vaccinated or show proof of a negative test.
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) August 19, 2021
Protect yourself. Protect your loved ones. Protect those around you.
Get vaccinated. https://t.co/QFByp8r4Th
Some cities have vaccine requirements for entering gyms, restaurants, and bars, like Los Angeles and San Francisco. Although not government-mandated, many performance groups are also asking for proof of vaccination or a negative test. For example, theaters and orchestras in Los Angeles now require vaccines for attendees without exceptions.
Dr. Tomás Aragón, director of the California Department of Public Health, explained that “The Delta variant has proven to be highly transmissible, making it easier to spread in large crowds where people are near each other for long periods of time. By requiring individuals to be vaccinated or test negative for COVID-19 at large events, we are decreasing the risk of infection, hospitalization, and death.”
The COVID-19 vaccines don’t contain the virus. They contain genetic code that prompts your immune system to create the antibodies needed to fight COVID-19. That way, your body will know what to do if it ever encounters the real thing. pic.twitter.com/xZIt0XJage
— CA Public Health (@CAPublicHealth) August 18, 2021
Although Los Angeles recently mandated mask-wearing for attendees of large outdoor events, the California Department of Public Health has not enforced the same guideline. State officials said, about LA’s policy, “Masks limit the spread of the virus in the air from infected persons and protect others exposed to these particles. Since the onset of the pandemic, counties have had the option to be more, but not less, restrictive.”
Visit the California Department of Public Health for more information about the state’s newest COVID-19 guidelines.
