With the county lifting COVID-19 face covering rules and vaccination verification rules, Los Angeles City Council President Nury Martinez on Friday filed a motion to end the city’s mandate requiring proof of vaccination to enter many indoor establishments and large outdoor events.
The city ordinance, which took effect Nov. 8, requires people age 12 and older to show proof of vaccination before frequenting the interior of restaurants, gyms, recreational and entertainment facilities, personal care establishments and some city buildings. The law also requires people to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test to attend outdoor events with 5,000 or more people.
Martinez’s motion essentially calls for the requirements to be reversed, though individual businesses would be allowed to voluntarily require proof of vaccination from customers.
If the motion is approved by the full City Council, the city attorney will be directed to prepare a new ordinance and bring it to the council for a final vote.
Los Angeles County this week eliminated its requirement that people show proof of vaccination to patronize indoor portions of bars, nightclubs or outdoor mega-events. But people attending indoor mega-events of 1,000 or more people, such as sporting events, must still show proof of a COVID-19 vaccination or a recent negative test to be admitted.
Vaccine verification or a negative COVID-19 test is also required for workers in health centers or mass care facilities.
Your vaccination card can be added to your phone without having to take a picture of it.
The city law is enforced by the Department of Building and Safety, which can issue administrative citations to businesses that violate the ordinance.
The citations include a $1,000 fine for a second offense, $2,000 for a third offense, and a $5,000 fine for a fourth and subsequent violations.
Los Angeles also enforces a vaccination mandate for its employees, who were required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 by December 18.
The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) has lifted the open face mask mandate for students and school staff.
Los Angeles Councilman Joe Buscaino, who is running for mayor, called Friday for that mandate to be repealed, saying he believes “it should be a matter of personal choice and that we must respect the civil liberties of our employees and allow them to make their own decisions.” medical decisions.
The mandate for city employees to get vaccinated was approved by the city council on August 18.
–
