Indoor concerts, theater performances and other private gatherings are coming back to California.
The California Department of Public Health announced Friday that those types of gatherings will be allowed starting April 15. Officials said they are relaxing the rules as new cases near record low numbers and nearly 40% of Californians have received at least one shot of the vaccine.
People will have to show proof of vaccination or a negative test in order to enter, and attendance will be limited based on a county's tier assignments.
Concerts and performances will be allowed starting in the red tier at 10% capacity for venues of up to 1,500 people and 20% capacity for venues with capacity greater than that. Counties in the orange and yellow tiers will be able to have more capacity.
Venues can also designate certain seating areas for people who are fully vaccinated and can sit close to each other, but must wear masks.
“This is really going to be a pathway to allowing venues to meet the capacity limits,” California Public Health Officer Dr. Tomás Aragón said.
Private events like receptions or conferences will be allowed in the purple tier but only outdoors, with a limit of 25 people. Counties in the red tier can hold events indoors with up to 50 people, and that capacity can increase to up to 200 people if all guests have negative test results or are fully vaccinated.
California opened vaccine eligibility to those 50 and older on Thursday and people 16 and older will be able to sign up for their shots starting April 15.