THE ANGELS. –
People entering a wide variety of businesses in Los Angeles must present evidence of vaccination against COVID-19 beginning Monday, after one of the strictest measures in the United States to curb the spread of the coronavirus took effect.
“It seems that our customers want to know that it is (in a safe place)”
Manfred Del Cid, Assistant Gym Manager
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The new rule covers businesses ranging from restaurants to shopping malls, cinemas and aesthetics. Commercial sector groups say the mandate will cause confusion and could raise concerns about the safety of employees tasked with reviewing clients’ vaccination status.
The new rules caused little disruption at Blue Bottle Coffee, a coffee shop located in the Los Feliz neighborhood, where a sign on the front door reminded customers that they must present proof of vaccination in order to eat inside.
Manager Matthew Cadena said the rush hour passed generally without news, as customers presented their vaccination cards or displayed photos of them on their cell phones. Some clients had a picture of their vaccination card as a wallpaper on their phones.
“Most of the people are kind and understanding,” Cadena said.
At the Body Builders Gym, located in the Silverlake neighborhood, steps have long been taken to meet the requirement. For months, employees have registered the vaccination status of their members in an internal system, so that the next time their clients visit the facilities, proof of vaccination has already been verified.
Manfred Del Cid, assistant manager of the gym, said that many members had offered to present their proof of vaccination before the requirement went into effect.
“It seems that our clientele want to know that it is (in a) safe place,” he said.
Los Angeles is one of a growing number of cities across the United States, including San Francisco and New York, that require individuals to present proof of vaccination in order to enter various facilities.
Hundreds of people opposed to the order for municipal workers in the city of Los Angeles and the county of the same name to show that they have already been vaccinated demonstrated in a park in the city center on Monday. The “March for Freedom” was organized by a group of firefighters who allege that such requirements are unconstitutional.
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