California To Lift Vaccination, Testing, All Other Covid Requirements For Indoor Concerts, Sporting Events

deadline.com:

Just days after the Oscars telecast, California will lift its requirements that all attendees at indoor “mega events” — such as concerts, conventions and sporting events — state officials announced today.

Those measures will still be strongly recommended.Indoor mega events are those with more than 1,000 attendees, according to the state.

After April 1, there will be no State of California mask, vaccine, testing or social distancing requirements for them.The updated guidance from State Health Officer Tomás Aragón reads as follows:Effective April 1, 2022, the requirement for vaccine verification or proof of negative tests for attendees at Indoor Mega Events will be lifted and will move to a strong recommendation.

This shift acknowledges that while case rates and hospitalizations are declining statewide from their peak during the Omicron surge, Indoor Mega Events continue to involve several factors that increase the risk of transmission of COVID-19.That means the state’s requirements will be lifted just days after the Oscars on March 27, but in time plenty of time for events like the Netflix Is a Joke Festival in April-May and Comic-Con in July.