COVID-19 won’t keep families apart over the holidays this year, but it can still get in the way of some activities in Southern California. That’s because of the rules the city and county of Los Angeles put on movie theaters, restaurants, and other venues to slow the spread of the disease.
The good news is that there are few things that someone fully vaccinated – and who can prove it – will not be able to do as a visitor to Los Angeles County.
A year ago, when vaccines were still in clinical trials, there were few activities allowed. Last year, shortly before Thanksgiving, Governor Gavin Newsom placed a large part of the state under a curfew, which prohibited people from leaving their homes for non-essential activities after 10 p.m. As infections were on the rise in Los Angeles County, health officials banned outdoor gatherings involving more than one family group, allowed only take-out service at restaurants, drastically limited the number of patrons in movie theaters and other businesses closed and demanded the use of masks and social distancing practically everywhere.
This year, movie theaters, concert halls, comedy clubs, and other nightspots are back on track, and in full swing. The restaurants receive their diners in outdoor and indoor spaces. Family reunions can go smoothly. The mask use mandates still exist, but “nonessential activity” is something that has disappeared from the lexicon.
Which does not suggest that COVID-19 has disappeared from this Earth. The more time you spend with people from other households, the greater your risk of infection.
Below is a summary of the requirements that Los Angeles City and County public health officials have implemented as we move into the holiday season.
Where proof of vaccination is required
Under a Los Angeles city ordinance, a large number of indoor businesses must require a complete COVID-19 vaccination test before letting people in. “Complete vaccination” means the person received the second Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine or the Johnson & Johnson single-dose vaccine at least two weeks prior.
The city will not begin enforcing the ordinance until November 29. But numerous Los Angeles establishments have already been demanding proof of vaccination for several months.
Affected establishments include:
- Restaurants, bars, food courts and coffee shops
- Gyms and group training classes
- Shopping centers
- Pool, bowling, betting and electronic game rooms
- Cinemas, theaters and concert halls
- Beauty salons, barber shops and tattoo sites
Additionally, outdoor events and attractions in the city attended by between 5,000 and 9,999 people must require proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test result obtained within the previous 72 hours. The tests are freely available in the city and county at more than 200 pharmacies, clinics, and pop-up sites.
Those not vaccinated can apply for an exemption attesting to a medical condition or sincere religious belief that prevents them from getting vaccinated, but even in those cases, companies are not required to care for them indoors. Instead, companies can make their unvaccinated customers sit outdoors or require proof of a negative COVID result before allowing them indoors.
In the rest of Los Angeles County, proof of complete vaccination is only required at bars, breweries, wineries, distilleries, nightclubs, and lounges. Unvaccinated people can use the outdoor locations of these businesses, if they have one.
How to prove that you are vaccinated?
The city and county offer several ways to document your vaccination:
. Show a vaccination card from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (the white one), the World Health Organization (yellow), or a similar foreign agency.
. If you don’t want to risk losing your card, show a copy, either in print or on your phone.
. Show a digital vaccination record from the state of California or from a recognized issuer such as Healthvana, or a QR code from a company participating in the SMART Health Card program.
. Provide some other type of documentation from a healthcare provider.
. You may also be asked to show photo identification to verify that the immunization record belongs to you.
If you are not vaccinated and are asked to submit a negative COVID test, the city states that you will need “a printed document, email or text message to show from the phone, that comes from a testing provider or laboratory” and shows your name, the type of test performed, the date, and a negative result.
Don’t forget your mask
Vaccinated or not, you will need a mask for most activities.
The county’s public health order states that, with very limited exceptions, customers and guests over the age of two who want to enter businesses, venues, indoor public settings, gatherings, and large outdoor events must wear a face mask, except while eating or drinking, showering, or being alone in one place. The mandate also applies to anyone traveling in public transportation (including taxis and rideshare vehicles), in transportation hubs, indoors in schools or other ‘youth settings’, in health centers, prisons or jails and shelters. .
No, you will not have to wear a mask to walk to the Hollywood sign. But don’t try to drop by to buy Gamboge’s Lemon Grilled Beef for the hike if you don’t have one.
To read this note in English, Click here.
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