Los Angeles County: COVID vaccine to be mandated for bars, nightclubs

Public areas such as bars, breweries, nightclubs in Los Angeles County will start requiring proof of vaccination against COVID-19, according to US media reports citing a public health officer. The health order is expected to be released later this week.

Dr Barbara Ferrer of the Los Angeles County said that employees of such venues will be required to get at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by October 7 while the second dose will be required by November 4, 2021, ABC News reported.

In a statement to the County’s Board of Supervisors, Dr Ferrer said, “This modified health officer order aligns with the continued need to reduce risk of transmission and increase vaccination coverage.”

Ferrer added, “This is a reasonable path forward that will position us to be better able to break the cycle of surges”, according to reports from ABC News.

A COVID-19 vaccine mandate would also be imposed on those associated with “mega-events”, which are being defined as those occasions with more than 10,000 people are in attendance.

Employees, attendees and participants will need to produce proof of COVID vaccination before being granted entry. Individuals can also opt to show a negative COVID-19 test conducted in the last 72 hours.

Earlier this month, similar decisions were taking regarding school staff and students, who are eligible to take COVID-19 vaccines.

COVID-19 vaccination mandates for students above the age of 12 in parts of Los Angeles were instated after Thursday as the city’s school board voted on the matter.  

The vaccine mandate will require students to be fully vaccinated against coronavirus before Christmas in order to continue attending classes, according to US media reports.

The Los Angeles Unified School District proposal would require students associated with in-person extracurricular activities to get fully vaccinated by the end of October, according to reports from NBC News.