LA County COVID vaccine mandate takes effect for large events, indoor areas of bars, nightclubs
LOS ANGELES -- At midnight Thursday night, the Los Angeles County began imposing COVID-19 vaccination requirements at indoor portions of bars, wineries, distilleries, nightclubs and lounges. Employees and customers of such businesses will be required to show proof of at least one dose of vaccine. Two doses will be required beginning Nov. 4.
Unvaccinated customers and employees can still be in outdoor portions of such establishments.
Meanwhile, people aged 12 and over attending outdoor mega-events of 10,000 or more people will be required to show proof of either full vaccination or a negative COVID test taken within 72 hours. The requirement will affect ticketed sporting events, outdoor concerts and theme parks that have 10,000 or more people in attendance.
Mask-wearing will also be required at all such events.
The requirements were already in place for large indoor events of 1,000 people or more.
READ MORE | Garcetti signs COVID vaccine mandate for indoor spaces starting Nov. 29
While the pace of residents being vaccinated against COVID-19 has dramatically slowed, Los Angeles County saw an encouraging uptick over the past month in vaccinations among some key younger age groups in recently released data, the public health director said.
The county still has persistent vaccination gaps among ethnic groups, with only 54% of Black residents and 63% of Latino residents having received at least one dose, compared to 72% of white residents and 82% of Asians.
Younger Black and Latino residents have been most notable in their low vaccination rates, but Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said there is a sign of improvement.
Of the county's roughly 10 million residents, 78% have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose and 69% are fully vaccinated, according to public health officials.
The county on Wednesday reported 31 new deaths and nearly 1,500 new cases of COVID-19. Health officials said the county has reported 14 deaths a day, on average, even though deaths and hospitalization figures have plunged by some 50% since late August.
California health officials reported more than 5,000 new cases statewide, mostly among the unvaccinated. Nearly 85% of eligible Californians have received at least one vaccine dose.
A growing number of places across the U.S., including San Francisco and New York City, are requiring people to show proof of vaccination to enter various types of businesses and venues.
In San Francisco, proof of vaccination for staff and patrons has been required since Aug. 20 in indoor places where food or drink is consumed, where aerobic exercise occurs such as gyms, and where large groups gather such as entertainment venues.
Businesses have complied with the order and officials have not issued any notices of violation or levied any fines, according to the San Francisco Department of Public Health.
San Francisco also has a mandate requiring masks in all indoor businesses but public health officials in the city and in surrounding San Francisco Bay Area communities are expected to announce this week criteria that would allow officials to lift indoor mask mandates.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
