The Tuesday Kings of Leon concert at The Forum in Inglewood had a flashing electronic marque to welcome concert-goers and notify them that new COVID-19 restrictions were in effect. Everyone would have to present proof of vaccination or a recent negative test to enter.
The concert was one of the first large indoor events to take place after California’s new requirement for indoor gatherings came into effect Sept. 20. At the Tuesday night concert, some attendees were prepared in advance while others took same-day precautions.
The state’s Department of Public Health announced last month that proof of COVID-19 vaccinations or a negative COVID-19 test will be required to attend a large, indoor gathering with 1,000 or more people.
Betty and Ricardo came prepared to show their vaccination status in multiple ways.
“I’ve brought my card and I have the app as well with my vaccination document on there. So if they ask for it, I’ll show it,” Ricardo said.
Self-attestation is no longer enough. Instead, people were required to show some form of proof, such as a QR code, their vaccination card or a photo of their card.
Other attendees said they waited until the last minute with a handful saying they got an instant COVID-19 test the morning of the show and hoped there wouldn’t be an issue entering the venue.
According to the health order, a negative coronavirus test should be taken within 72 hours of the event’s start to be considered valid. The testing requirement also applies to children under 12.
Most of the people KNX spoke with said they had no problems with the health restrictions and quite a few wore a mask inside the Forum. Others said they expect these kinds of restrictions for major events to last at least through the end of the year, if not longer.
The order was issued as Los Angeles County was experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases. “By requiring individuals to be vaccinated, or test negative for COVID-19 at large events, we are decreasing the risk of infection, hospitalization and death,” said State Public Health Officer Dr. Tomás J. Aragón in August.
Health officials said the vaccination requirement will be in effect at least until Nov. 1.
Locally, the county has taken even more precautions when it comes to large gatherings, such as instating a mask mandate for outdoor mega events.
The mandate, enacted through an emergency health order, classifies a gathering of more than 10,000 people outdoors as a mega event and considered the gatherings to have a “higher risk for COVID-19 transmission.”
The only time people in attendance are able to remove their mask is when they are “actively eating and drinking,” which the order clarifies is “limited time during which the mask can be removed briefly.” Masks must be put back on immediately after.
The rule will be in place "until further notice," according to the health order.
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