Los Angeles has officially launched SafePassLA, a mandate that requires patrons to show proof of vaccination to enter restaurants, bars, gyms, movie theatres, and more.
The mandate has been described as one of the strictest vaccination mandates on the books nationwide and while it was rolled out on Monday, enforcement won’t begin until Nov. 29.
The new rules were drafted as an ordinance and signed into law by Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti in September.
“Vaccinating more Angelenos is our only way out of this pandemic, and we must do everything in our power to keep pushing those numbers up," Garcetti said in a statement.
Businesses are required to place advisory signage for patrons on their premises explaining that you need to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to enter the premises. Businesses are then required to check proof of vaccination of patrons at the door, while large outdoor events must require either proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test taken within 72 hours.
Acceptable proof of vaccination includes vaccination card, photocopy of vaccination card, digital vaccination card issued by the state of California or documentation of vaccination by a healthcare provider. For customers aged 18 and older, businesses will be required to check identification against the vaccination proof.
There is yet to be feed back on how well the system works and whether or not it is too difficult for an already stressed hospitality sector to enforce. It will be important to keep an eye on this as our own vaccination passport system is rolled out here in New Zealand.
