County to Require Vaccine Proof

By Alyssa Erdley, Observer Staff Writer

9/17/21 - Los Angeles County Health Department officials announced this week that they will be issuing a new Health Officer Order that will require vaccine verifications in order to enter bars, wineries breweries, nightclubs, and lounges. Either a vaccine verification or a negative Covid test within 72 hours prior will be required for attending outdoor mega events. These are already required at indoor mega events.

The county's press release states the modified Health Officer Order "would align with President Biden."

The new order, not yet officially issued will take effect on October 7. By then, customers and employees at bars, breweries, nightclubs, and lounges must have at least one dose of a Covid vaccine. Both doses will be required by November 4.

The new vaccine mandate for bars and indoor mega events comes as the number of cases and hospitalizations appears to be decreasing in the county. Test positivity rate peaked on July 30 and has been decreasing sharply ever since. The daily number of deaths reached a high around August 20 and has held steady since then. Hospitalizations hit a high at the same time, and have been decreasing ever since.

County officials say 67% of the eligible population is vaccinated. 76% have received at least one dose of vaccine. The eligible population is every individual, regardless of immigration status, over the age of 12. Irwindale has a high among county cities with a vaccination rate of 97.1%. The city with the lowest vaccination rate (other than Avalon at 22%) is Lancaster with 57.6%. By race, Asians have the highest vaccination rate followed by American Indian/Alaska Native, white, Latinx, and Black/African American.

The county does not provide data regarding the number of confirmed cases, hospitalizations or deaths of fully vaccinated individuals