LA May Require Proof of Vaccination To Enter Restaurants, Shops

LOS ANGELES, CA — Los Angeles city leaders on Wednesday proposed a policy requiring members of the public to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 before entering public indoor spaces in the city of Los Angeles, including restaurants, bars, gyms, concert venues, movie theaters and retail businesses. If it passes, it would be one of the most aggressive COVID-19 vaccination policies in the nation.

It comes just a day after New York City enacted a similar requirement for restaurant, gym and theater patrons. LA's measure would go much further, however, in restricting unvaccinated people's ability to enter retail establishments. City Council President Nury Martinez and Councilman Mitch O'Farrell proposed the controversial policy as the Delta variant fuels a surge in coronavirus cases and hospitalizations in Los Angeles County and nationwide.

"Enough is enough already," said Martinez. "Hospital workers are exhausted, moms who have put aside their careers are tired, and our kids cannot afford the loss of another school year. We have three vaccines that work and are readily available, so what's it going to take?"

The move is sure to set off protests. Early in the pandemic, protesters took to the streets across Southern California to protest mask mandates, and protests were stage inside businesses by people refusing to wear masks. The mask mandates, at times, resulted in deadly violence often targeting retail workers who enforced the mandates.

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According to O'Farrell's office, the exact businesses that would fall under the restrictions would be determined during the drafting of the ordinance by city attorneys. No determination has yet been made on whether such retail restrictions would extend to grocery stores.

The motion, if passed by the City Council, would instruct the city attorney to prepare an ordinance requiring "eligible individuals" to have received at least one dose of the vaccine before entering indoor spaces in the city.

The motion would also instruct the Community Investment for Families Department to report immediately on how to expand the Vax UP L.A. campaign and what resources are needed for a citywide outreach and education program in an effort to expand vaccine coverage.

If the motion is approved, the Chief Legislative Analyst would work with other city departments to create an implementation strategy for the requirement and the city attorney would report to council with a course of action for ensuring compliance.

"Hard-working Angelenos, their customers and the general public deserve to be safe in public spaces," O'Farrell said. "The vaccines are our most effective form of protection, and the time to act is now."

County health officials continue to urge vaccinations as the best defense against COVID-19 infections, which are disproportionately affecting the unvaccinated and landing them in hospitals.

County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said last week that of all the people who were hospitalized in the county due to COVID-19 in June, 92% were either unvaccinated entirely or not fully vaccinated. The figure was 95% in May. For the first 10 days of July -- the most recent statistic available -- the rate was 91%.

Ferrer also said that 99.8% of the COVID fatalities in the county during the first six months of the year occurred among the unvaccinated. The rate was 96% from April 1 to June 30, a period during which vaccines were more widely available.

Of the county's 10.3 million residents, 60% have received at least one dose, and 52% are fully vaccinated. Roughly 1.3 million residents under age 12 remain ineligible for the vaccine.

Among residents age 16 and over, 72% have received at least one dose, and 63% are fully vaccinated, according to the most recent county figures. The rates are significantly higher among older residents, with 89% of county residents aged 65 and over with at least one dose, and 79% fully vaccinated.

City News Service and Patch Staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report.