California to require COVID-19 vaccination or negative test at large indoor events
Beginning Sept. 20, California will require attendees of large indoor events to submit proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test prior to entry. (Ashley Kenney/Photo editor)
By Victoria Ke Li
Aug. 18, 2021 6:09 p.m.
California will require proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test for attendees of large indoor events beginning next month.
Beginning Sept. 20, all individuals who attend indoor events with more than 1,000 attendees must submit proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test, according to new guidance from the California Department of Public Health. California is the first state to institute such a requirement.
Affected events will include concerts, sporting events and conferences, lasting at least until Nov. 1. The guidance will not apply to large outdoor events, where proof of vaccination or a negative test is only recommended.
Self-attestation will no longer be allowed as a form of proof of vaccination, according to the guidance. Venue operators and event organizers must require fully vaccinated individuals to submit proof using one of the accepted methods, such as presenting their vaccination record card, photo of their card or a QR code.
Additionally, negative tests must be conducted within 72 hours of the event’s start time, and the results must be available before entry.
The updated guidance comes amid a recent surge in COVID-19 cases and deaths in California. According to CDPH, state case rates increased elevenfold in the past two months, making it the fastest rise in cases to date for California.
The state is currently averaging 26.6 new cases per 100,000 people every day as of Tuesday.
[Related: Delta variant contributes to rise in COVID-19 cases in LA County]
“Given the rapid spread of the highly transmissible delta variant, additional precautionary measures must be taken in large, indoor events, which have the potential to cause large, substantial, and severe outbreaks,” CDPH said in the guidance.
As of Tuesday, almost 65% of California’s eligible population is fully vaccinated, according to a state dashboard.
Los Angeles County revised its county health officer order Tuesday to require face masks for all attendees at large outdoor events, regardless of vaccination status.
