California will allow indoor live events to resume with limitations from the end of this month, which means an impending return on things like concerts, sports competitions and theatrical performances that have long been off-limits due to the COVID-19 pandemic. .
The changes in the state’s reopening plan, which go into effect on April 15, reflect two parallel trends, officials say.
First, California continues to gain ground in its battle against the coronavirus, with the number of new confirmed cases and related hospitalizations continuing to decline.
And, second, the launch of the vaccine in the state is advancing, with hundreds of thousands of doses being administered every day.
“By following public health guidelines, such as wearing masks and being vaccinated when eligible, we can resume additional activities as we take steps to reduce the risk,” said Dr. Mark Ghaly, California’s secretary of health and human services, in a statement. communicated.
Even after the revisions go into effect, “California will still be one of the most restrictive states in the country,” added Dee Dee Myers, senior adviser to Governor Gavin Newsom and director of the governor’s Business and Economic Development Office. .
“We will continue to move very slowly and cautiously, but with some transparency towards more permitted activities,” she said.
Under the new state guidance released on Friday, events and live performances indoors would remain banned at the purple level – the most restrictive step in California’s color-coded reopening roadmap.
But they could happen as of April 15 in the other three tiers, subject to capacity limits and other requirements, such as tickets being purchased in advance, organizers establishing designated areas for eating and drinking and participation being limited to California residents.
For locations with a capacity of up to 1,500 people, the new rules will be:
- At the red level, the second most restricted in the state, attendance would be limited to 10% of capacity or 100 people – although this could increase to 25% if all guests are tested for coronavirus or show evidence that they have been fully vaccinated.
- On the next step on the ladder, the orange level, the capacity limit would be 15% or 200 people, and would increase to 35% if all guests were tested or fully vaccinated.
- The maximum capacity would increase to 25% or 300 people at the least restrictive yellow level and could increase to 50% if everyone was tested or completely vaccinated.
For higher capacity sites, testing or proof of vaccination would be required and the frequency limited to 20% of the capacity in the red layer. The limit would be 10% or 2,000 people in the orange layer – and could increase to 35% if all participants were tested or presented proof of complete vaccination.
The limit is also set at 10% or 2,000 people in the yellow layer, although it can be increased to 50% if all guests are tested or fully vaccinated.
Sites can also choose to separate people into sections based on their vaccination status. Those who are fully vaccinated can sit shoulder to shoulder, but must wear masks, said the state’s Public Health official, Dr. Tomás Aragón.
Aragón said that, at first, people will have to bring the vaccination card. But “we anticipate that in the future, the solution will be digital,” which means that people could potentially show proof of vaccination on their cell phones.
Myers said he believes that “allowing some of these activities and opportunities to vaccinated individuals is an incentive – and we want to encourage people to get the vaccine and get it as soon as possible so that they can return to some of their favorite activities. “
To date, 32% of Californians have received at least one dose of vaccine, according to data from the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
However, only about 16.8% of the state’s population has been fully vaccinated.
State authorities also released on Friday a new guideline regarding events, meetings and private gatherings.
From April 15, open-air meetings of up to 25 people are allowed in the red layer, with the maximum size increasing to 50 people in the orange layer and 100 people in the yellow layer.
In the purple layer, outdoor meetings are limited to three families.
Although state officials strongly discourage any internal meetings, such events are permitted with modifications in non-purple layers.
Private events – such as receptions or conferences – are allowed outdoors only in the purple layer, with participation limited to 25 people. If everyone is tested or fully vaccinated, the frequency can increase to up to 100 people.
“At all layers, modifications are needed to reduce risk,” according to a statement from the California Department of Public Health. “This includes pre-purchased tickets or a defined guest list and assigned seats.”
Here are the rules for events in the other layers:
- Red layer: outdoor meetings are limited to 50 people, increasing to 200 if all guests are tested or vaccinated. Indoor activities are allowed, with a frequency limited to 100, if everyone takes the test or presents proof of complete vaccination.
- Orange layer: outdoor meetings are limited to 100 people. The limit goes up to 300, and indoor activities for up to 150 people are allowed, with complete exams and vaccination.
- Yellow layer: open-air meetings of up to 200 people can be held, increasing to 400 if all guests are tested or fully vaccinated. Internal activities would be allowed with a frequency limited to 200 if all were tested or inoculated.
Friday’s announcement was California’s latest move to loosen restrictions on COVID-19 as cases and hospitalizations plummeted.
More areas of California – including Orange and Los Angeles counties – are seeing their coronavirus metrics improve to the point where they can reopen businesses and other public spaces more broadly.
LA and Orange counties were released this week to advance to the orange level.
With the move, a number of locations, including restaurants, bars, retail stores, museums and religious temples, can increase their operations. The relaxed rules went into effect in Orange County on Wednesday, as soon as it was allowed, but LA county officials said they were holding on See you on Monday.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.