Covid-19 vaccine mandates at major arenas in California are expiring today.
Starting April 1, the requirements for indoor large events will change, state health officials announced on Friday. Downtown's Golden 1 Center and San Francisco's Chase Center are among the large-venue arenas dumping their covid entry requirements starting tomorrow. Visitors will no longer be required to show proof of a covid vaccination or negative test, but those who not vaccinated must continue to wear a mask. Meanwhile Governor Gavin Newsom will keep his emergency declaration powers allowing him special authority until the legislature revokes the powers."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," the updated guidance read.
The requirement for vaccine verification or negative COVID-19 tests will move to a "strong recommendation." State health officials point to declining COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations across California as the reason for the event changes. The state's 7-day average of COVID-19 cases is now 6.5 per 100,000 people - at a peak in December, the state reported a 7-day average case rate of 72.4 cases per 100,000 people.