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City Of LA’s Indoor Vaccine Mandate Is Still In Place — But Probably Only For Another Week
Proof of vaccination will still be required at indoor settings in the city of Los Angeles for at least another week.
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Alborz Kamalizad
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LAist
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The Los Angeles City Council took another step toward dropping the city’s indoor vaccine mandate Wednesday. It's expected to make it official in a week.
Since Nov. 8, the city has required everyone aged 12 and up to show proof they're vaccinated to be indoors at restaurants, bars, gyms and other businesses. The law remained in place as the omicron surge infected and hospitalized thousands of Angelenos before beginning to recede in February.
The law also requires people to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test to attend outdoor mega events of 5,000 or more people. Thirteen council members voted to roll it back, with just Mike Bonin voting no.
“I know it feels like we’re out of the woods, but there’s new variants and new strains all the time," Bonin said. "This BA.2 is spreading and we really don’t know what the variant[s] a month or two months from now are. Personally, I’d like to see us keep the vaccination requirement.”
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Because the vote wasn’t unanimous, the indoor vaccine mandate will stay in place until March 30, when the council will vote again. If a simple majority votes in favor, the ordinance will head to Mayor Eric Garcetti’s desk for his consideration.
Even if it’s passed, individual businesses could still ask customers for proof of vaccination.
Falling COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations prompted the L.A. County Dept. of Public Health to drop its indoor vaccination requirement for bars, nightclubs, lounges and outdoor mega events in early March. Indoor events with 1,000 people or more still require proof of vaccination or a negative test, though state and county health officials are expected to drop the requirement on April 1.
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