Push To Vaccinate Angelenos Enters New Phase

LOS ANGELES, CA — The summer surge that nudged many of LA's vaccine hesitant to get the shot appears to be waning, but now Angelenos will soon have another reason to role up their sleeves. Deadlines for employee mandates loom, and pretty soon, bars, breweries, wineries and clubs in Los Angeles County will bar the unvaccinated from entering. Major concert venues and professional sports will also require fans to show proof of vaccination or a recent negative coronavirus test.

Already, a new state rule took effect Monday, requiring all attendees at indoor events of 1,000 people or more to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test. Attendees will have to show proof -- with "self-attestation" no longer an option. The vaccine requirements stem from a patchwork of federal, state and county mandates. Combined, they make it challenging to remain unvaccinated in Los Angeles County, and they are aimed at limiting outbreaks.

Though hospitalizations are falling as are daily caseloads, the summer surge isn't done with Los Angeles just yet. Daily death tolls remain high. Another 32 COVID deaths were confirmed by the county Tuesday, raising the overall death toll from the pandemic to 25,870.

The county Department of Public Health also reported another 1,238 infections. According to state figures, there were 1,018 COVID-positive patients in county hospitals as of Tuesday, down from 1,034 on Monday. There were 312 patients in intensive care, down slightly from Monday's total of 315.

The number of COVID-positive hospital patients in Los Angeles County has dropped for eight consecutive days and 21 of the past 22 days.

The rolling average daily rate of people testing positive for the virus in the county was 1.4% as of Tuesday, roughly the same as the 1.2% rate on Monday.

"The surge in cases we experienced this summer was driven in part by the more infectious Delta variant and by the universal intermingling of unmasked individuals where vaccination and testing status were unknown," county Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said in a statement. "Safety measures at places where large crowds gather with many opportunities for intermingling such as universal masking and negative test or vaccination status verification requirements are sensible measures that lower the risk for transmission of the virus at higher risk settings. Our hope is that with full implementation of these mandates, we create conditions that don't favor a continual cycle of surges fueled by new variants of concern."

A new county Health Officer Order issued Friday will require proof of vaccination for all customers and employees at indoor bars, breweries, nightclubs, wineries and distilleries. All patrons and employees will need at least one dose of vaccine by Oct. 7, and a second dose by Nov. 4. The order will recommend, but not require, vaccinations for people at indoor restaurants.

The new order will also require all attendees and employees at outdoor mega-events with 10,000 people or more to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test within 72 hours. That requirement, which will take effect Oct. 7, will affect all major outdoor sporting events, and will also impact large theme parks, such as Universal Studios Hollywood and Six Flags Magic Mountain.

According to numbers released Friday, 76% of eligible county residents aged 12 and over have received at least one dose of COVID vaccine, and 67% are fully vaccinated. Of the county's overall 10.3 million populace, including those 12 and under who are ineligible for shots, 65% have received at least one dose, and 58% are fully vaccinated.

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